Saturday, February 12, 2011

Portuguese cards

I had these two places in my portuguese wishlist, i've never visited these cities and i wanted to have cards of these monuments. Vitória "blicas blocas" saw the wishlist and sent me the cards.


"The Arouca Monastery dates back to the 10th century. In 1210, D. Sancho I, Portugal’s King, donated it to his daughter D. Mafalda. Enlargement works were carried out in the 15th and in 16th centuries in the monastery. The existing imposing building, as we perceive it today, dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries. It forms a big rectangle comprising three inner patios. Worth highlighting is the church, in the north wing, and the ancient barn, on the opposite side. The Neoclassical cloister began to be built in the end of the 18th century. Inside the church, one can not miss the choir, the chairs and the monumental organ, ultimate Portuguese Baroque exponents. The monastery also includes the tomb of Holy Mafalda and the Sacred Art Museum, located in the former convent facilities. The visit includes the cloister, the kitchen and the chapter room. The museum’s collection assembles vestments, liturgical books, painting and gold and silver works." - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/santa-maria-de-arouca-monastery-convents-and-monasteries-328184-1.html
"Portalegre cathedral and Bishop’s House form a distinguished set, located at the historical centr in the uppermost zone of the city. Built in the 16th century, it is a hall-church integrated in a late renaissance. The majority of the décor elements date back to the 17th century and 18th centuries. Its interior decoration is also worth mentioning, namely a set of 96 paintings in wood, regarded as a unique collection in the country. This collection reveals a mainly Mannerism taste. Some of the paintings depict apocrypha themes." - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/portalegre-cathedral-cathedrals-churches-and-basilicas-349838-1.html

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