Porto

A view of our town, looking towards the Cathedral. In the foreground, one of the ubiquitous skylights which populate it.

ENGRAVING AND GILDING SIGNS

This golden shop window really showcases what they did best, and what can still be seen over many doors in downtown Porto - beautiful gilt lettering over glass, advertising for goods.

SOMETHING SIMPLER

and not so wobbly.
Arquivo Histórico Municipal, Tavira

MORE WOBBLY WOOD DOORS

Arquivo Histórico Municipal, Tavira

MODERN WAREHOUSE

Cacela Velha, Praia da Fábrica, Faro

OVAL WINDOW

Private House, Faro

Lost Paradise

The valley of Almofala, Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo.
This is only half Old Portuguese Stuff, as the right bank of the river (as seen in the photos) is already Spanish territory. But Man-made divisions aside, stark Nature here rules absolute, with the river flowing gently by and vultures crossing above to nest. A small chapel and a columbarium rest above the remains of a castrum, a native settlement before and during Roman occupation perched atop the hill.

Cloisters, Viseu

Sé de Viseu, the cloisters.

STRANGE STRUCTURE

Palácio dos Biscainhos (17th century), Braga

CHIMNEY

Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Museu Municipal de Faro), 16th century, Faro

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.

ITALIAN WINDOW

Palácio Episcopal de Faro, Architect Fancisco Xavier Fabri.
Not really full on baroque, but the two-dimensionality is made up for by the charming profiles, which could also be called neoclassical save from the pointed "chinese" pediment on top.

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.

CUPOLA

Convento de Nossa Senhora da Assunção (Museu Municipal de Faro), 16th century, Faro.
This dome is as pure as anything in Renaissance Italy, with a few charming flourishes and soft plaster flaming urns. Inside, simple ribs and palms are the only decoration.

BLUE CABINS

The restaurant Estaminé is not the only structure on the "Deserta" Island in Faro. Here's some small storage cabins located in the island, made of wood boards and covered with zinc roofs.

Ilha Deserta, Faro

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.

BALCONY CORNER

The multiplication of different materials harmoniously blended at this corner in Régua is staggering. Plaster walls, stone balcony-cornices, painted corrugated sheet metal siding, clay tiles, wood trim and wrought iron railings.