TILES

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga

BAROQUE DOOR AND WINDOW DETAIL

Palácio do Raio, Braga. The Rocaille mixes with the the Northern Baroque of André Soares, Braga's architect of wonders.

CHICKEN

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. A stone bird at a water tank's edge in the garden.

INSIDE AND OUTSIDE

Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Braga, Braga. The church came after the luscious baroque garden stairs and pavilions, hence its already "neo-classical" straightness of design. The relatively cool emotional feeling of the temple contrasts with the fireworks in stone displayed in the ascending path.

TILES AND PILASTER DETAIL

Palácio do Raio, Braga

CHAPEL

Chapel of the Last Supper, Sanctuary of Bom Jesus de Braga, Braga

OCTAGONAL DOMED FOLLY

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. In plaster and stone, this folly is hidden in a quiet corner of the gardens, and remains cool and damp inside, great for Summer hideouts. Its interior is pure architecture - the square plan transforms into octagon dome via semi-circular arches.

HANDRAIL

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga.

FLUE

 

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga.

This "flue"  is nothing less than the whole meat smoking room. Sausages and other meats would be placed at the hooks shown on the top photo, and be smoked from a firepit below. The small holes in the wall, and the roof itself, would let the smoke out. The wonderful iron structure lifts the tiles so there is an air gap at the junction with the walls. Needless to say, the kitchen has been cleaned and no curing has been done in a while!

PAINTED WOOD CEILING

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

OPTICAL ILLUSION

Private house, Braga. Are they cupping in or sticking out? Difficult to tell, although the first seems highly improbable. In any case the tactile nature of this wall is without question, and the colors are beautiful.

ROOM SIZE LANTERN

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga. Walls clad in painted tin, wooden windows.

GARDEN CLOCK

 The ticket booth for the lake boats at the grounds of Bom Jesus, Braga.

STONE STEPS DETAILS

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. The gardens, with cantilevered stone steps accessing the top of the property wall.

ONION DOMED GARDEN FOLLY

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th-18th century), Braga, the gardens.

THE EYES

Palácio do Raio, Braga

SKYLIGHT

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

DOOR DETAIL

Palácio dos Bicainhos (17th century), Braga. Riveted metal door.

DOOR JAMB DETAIL

Palácio dos Biscainhos, Braga

WOBBLY BAROQUE DOOR

Paço Episocopal Bracarense (18th century), Braga. More psychedelia, this time in the form of door panels.