Monday, November 26, 2012

Amarante - Portugal

Amarante is a city in northern Portugal. I've only been there once many years ago.
This card sent by Óscar & Daniela shows the São Gonçalo Bridge, Church and Convent.

© Forways
Built in 1790, the town’s impressive bridge was the scene of heroic resistance in 1809 by the people of Amarante, who fought off French Marshall Soult’s advance for 14 days before his army advanced and burnt down their houses.
Dating back to 1540, the exotic honey-gold granite façade of the church and former monastery of São Gonçalo houses a lovely interior of painted columns and a dramatic high altar, under which exists a little golden chapel where Saint Gonçalo himself lies buried. Born in Amarante at the end of the 12th century, Saint Gonçalo is mostly revered for his many healing miracles. The church also features a magnificent two-storey Renaissance cloister. - in:
http://www.portugaltravelguide.com/en/amarante.htm
Part of the monastery now houses the town's museum dedicated to the life and work of locally-born Cubist artist Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso (1887-1918), one of Portugal’s leading 20th-century artists.

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