Alva & Douro

Alva and Douro are two portuguese rivers. The Alva is a tributary of the Mondego river and  it springs from the high altitude (1425m) in the Serra da Estrela, Portugal's highest mountain in mainland. Douro is one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from its source near Duruela de la Sierra in Soria Province across northern-central Spain and Portugal to its outlet at Porto.

 Photo by Marta Cairrão

This card shows the a roman brigde crossing the Alva River at Sandomil, a lovely village situated in the central region of the country.

Photo by Marta Cairrão

And this is a Douro landscape somewhere in the north of my district.

Pampilhosa - Portugal

I love to travel by train but i don't like to travel alone, especially big travels. I really hate when i've to go to Lisbon alone, it's a 4 hours travel... way too boring.

When i took this picture i wasn't alone and the travel wasn't that long but i had to change trains 3 times.

Photo by Marta Cairrão

Pampilhosa is an important rail center in Portugal and that's where the North Railway and Beira Alta Railway meet.

Glória Elevator - Lisbon

Last august i went to Lisbon with a friend to meet Grace "azzuri" and her family. It was a  lovely afternoon. After lunch we took a ride on the the Glória Elevator.

Photo by Grace Staffa

The Glória Elevator  is a funicular that links Baixa (Restauradores Square) with Bairro Alto (Jardim / Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara), in Lisbon.

The Glória Funicular was opened to the public on October 24, 1885. At first it was designed as a water-powered system, then in 1886 it was replaced by a steam-power one, and finally in 1915 it was electrified. In 2002 it was designated a National Monument. - in: wikipedia

Ninocas' lighthouse cards

Ninocas is very fond of lighthouses and she sent me these cards with her own pictures. I live in a mountain region, lighthouses are not something i get to see very often.

 Photo by Ana Santos

Roca Cape lighthouse is located on the westernmost extent of continental Europe, the Roca Cape, in Sintra, west of the district of Lisbon.

The construction of the lighthouse was completed in 1772, and the structure rises 144 meters in height above the cape.

 Photo by Ana Santos

Guia lighthouse in Cascais is a 28 m (92 ft) tapered octagonal stone tower with lantern and gallery. This lighthouse is a beautiful and treasured example of mid 18th century architecture. Monks of the monastery of Nossa Senhora da Guia (Our Lady Guide) began displaying navigational lights on this site in 1537, and the present lighthouse was built after the great earthquake of 1755 largely destroyed the monastery. - in: http://wikimapia.org/8111782/Guia-Lighthouse

Photo by Ana Santos

Located on a cliff on Montedor hill, 8 km north of Viana do Castelo and 11 km south of the estuary of the River Minho, the Montedor lighthouse has commanding views. Its construction was often postponed, but it was eventually built in 1910 and is Portugal’s most northerly light house. The granite tower is 28 metres high and is at an altitude of 103 metres above sea level. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/montedor-lighthouse-and-cliffs.htm

Other castle cards by TN

Thanks to this touchnote thing i've got several castle cards. These were sent by Gracinha, Vitória and Ninocas and i still didn't have 3 of them.

 Noudar castle is located in Barrancos, Beja district, Alentejo region.

Noudar Castle is located next to the Spanish border in a very beautiful place between two rivers. There can be found not only vestiges of the Medieval period, but also numerous testimonies of Roman and Islamic period, as revealed by several archaeological campaigns. The wall, reinforced by towers and pillars, has an hexagonal plan. The church Nossa Senhora do Desterro is situated inside the wall. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/noudar-castle-castles-and-forts-325630-1.html

 Photo by Vitória Sequeira

Alter do Chão castle is also located in the Alentejo region but in Portalegre district.

Alter do Chão Castle was built in the 14th century under D. Pedro I reign in a period of military fortifications because of the Spanish threat that came from the East and not anymore as a defensive strategy against the Moors. In the 15th century this castle became property of Bragança House. By that time, it turned into a fortified manor house. The entrance is made through a towerlike door. The 44m high keep rises upon the village’s houses. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/alter-do-chao-castle-castles-and-forts-325653-1.html

 Photo by Ana Santos

Portel Castle is another castle in the Alentejo region and this one is located in the 3rd district of the region, Évora.

Portel Castle was erected in the 13th century by João de Aboim. Improvement works were carried out by architect Francisco Arruda, under D. Manuel I reign. In that period the following monuments were built: Paço dos Duques de Bragança; Church Igreja de S. Vicente in Manueline and mudéjar style, which is now in ruins; headquarters; stables and a cistern. The keep still strikes the visitor for its dimension. It has an arch door and Gothic marble windows. - in:  http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/portel-castle-castles-and-forts-325648-1.html

Photo by Ana Santos

Of these 4 castles, this is the only one i've already visited.

 Almourol castle is medieval castle, located on a small islet in the middle of the Tagus River,  4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from Vila Nova da Barquinha, Santarém district.

This castle was one of many structures constructed by the Knights Templar in the region.

The castle was a strategic location for the Knights Templar in the 12th century, as they battled to drive the Moors out of the Portugal.

The castle was damaged during the earthquake of 1755, which razed Lisbon to the ground. Following the extinction of the Order of the Knights Templar in 1312, ownership of Almourol Castle passed to the Order of Christ. During the New State period in Portugal in the early 19th century Almourol Castle began an official residence of the state. However in the latter part of the 19th century the castle was given to the Portuguese army. Even today the responsibility of Almourol Castle is down to the commander of the Engineering Practical School (Escola Prática de Engenharia de Tancos). Almourol Castle was designated a national monument in 1910.

However it is still possible to visit Almourol Castle today. Entry is free though the only access to the castle is by boat. - in:  http://www.gekkoportugal.com/almourol-castle-portugal.htm

My castles cards by TN

In my travels i always try to visit castles and in Portugal we have many. These are Mogadouro, Vinhais, Arnóia and Marialva castles.

Photo by Marta Cairrão

Built in 1160, in the former place of an important ancient village, Mogadouro Castle integrated the first defense line of castles that protected Portugal Northeast region. Soon after its construction, King D. Dinis donated this castle to the Templar Order and only a few years later, it would become property of the Order of Christ. It suffered several renewals in the 14th century. In the 17th century, the clock tower was constructed. Several years later, it would be severely damaged by a particularly harsh Winter. In the present day, Mogadouro Castle preserves its keep and a rectangular battlement in the highest part of the castle. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/mogadouro-castle-castles-and-forts-327739-1.html

Photo by Marta Cairrão

I've only stoped in Vinhais for a few minutes to take 2 pictures.

The fortress was probably built in the 13th century, despite the widening works that were carried out along the wall perimeter around the castle. Several improvement works followed under the ruling of D. Dinis, D. Fernando, D. João I and D. Manuel I. Vinhais castle increasingly gained a huge military importance, thanks to its strategic geographical position. The military Roman path converged here, from Braga (through Chaves), heading to Astorga through Bragança. You can still see vestiges of fort hills. The most important one is the citadel’s peak. The existing castle was demolished in 18th century, so that a church could be built in its place. However, the oval wall still preserves some of its curtains and part of a tower. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/vinhais-castle-vestiges-castles-and-forts-328774-1.html

Photo by Marta Cairrão

Some time ago Vitória sent me a card from Celorico de Basto showing a garden in the city and this castle. But i wanted a card only with the castle and made this one.

Arnóia Castle is situated at the top of an edgy rock, near Celorico de Basto. The castle has a square-shaped keep and a polygonal wall. Its origins are prior to the country foundation (1143), so that it underwent remodelling works in the 11th century. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/arnoia-castle-castles-and-forts-327677-1.html

 Photo by Marta Cairrão

Remember the Historical Villages i mentioned a few posts ago? Here it is another card from one of those villages, Marialva.

This castle is from the 12th century.  Only a world of deserted ruins has remained from the ancient splendour of Marialva Castle, surrounded by very beautiful walls. Nowadays you can still see a long granite wall, the pillory, the keep, the citadel and the cistern. - in: http://en.lifecooler.com/lifecooleren/marialva-castle-castles-and-forts-327720-1.html

My churches cards by TN

I love churches and any religious temples but i'm not a Church person.

I've visited all of these but didn't find any cards of them.

Photo by Marta Cairrão

I've been to Miranda do Douro last year with a friend. We went on a road trip to Trás-os-Montes, a region in northeast of Portugal.  We visited a few cities and Miranda do Douro was one of them. My friend drove and i chose where to stop. I decided to stop in Miranda just to see this church, the city's old cathedral.

This attractive twin-towered old cathedral was founded in the 16th century by King João III (1521-1557); it is now the parish church. Designed by Gonçalo de Torralva and Miguel de Arruda, it is a fine example of Mannerist architecture. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/cathedral-miranda-do-douro.htm

 Photo by Marta Cairrão

On that same road trip, our next stop was Torre de Moncorvo and i've also decided to stop there because of this church.

The granite 16th century parish church of Nossa Senhora da Assunção is the largest church in the region of Tras-os-Montes. The façade is dominated by the tower and features gargoyles of human and animal shapes.

Locally, the church is said to be made of figs and honey, as a fig tree has established itself on the façade and there is also a beehive in the outer wall. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/parish-church-torre-de-moncorvo.htm

 Photo by Marta Cairrão

Vila Real is the capital of the Trás-os-Montes region but i havent been there during last year's road trip. I've been there 3 times and the last time, when i took this picture, was in 2008. This is the city's cathedral.

This church only became the cathedral in 1922, when Pope Pious XI made Vila Real a diocese; originally it had been the church of St Dominic’s monastery. King João I granted permission for the construction of the monastery in 1421. After the banning of religious institutions in 1834, the other monastic buildings burnt down in mysterious circumstances in the mid-19th century. The bell-tower dates from 1742 and this fine Gothic building is now a National Monument. - in: http://www.aportugalattraction.com/portugal-attractions/cathedral-vila-real.htm

 Photo by Marta Cairrão

Castelo Bom is a village in my district. This is the Nossa Senhora da Assunção church, built in the 18th century in the same place of an older church from the 13th century.

Photo by Marta Cairrão

Finally, Espinho's church.

The largest monument of Espinho is the Parish Church. Its construction started in 1902 and was finished in the late 40’s. The temple is dominated by a decorative tower which is of great magnificence. The main front shows an arcade, a rose-window, a clock, the towers and finally, the tower’s pyramidal needle, crowned 40 meters high with the statue of “Nossa Senhora da Ajuda” (Our Lady of Help). The corners of the walls are used as pillars for two sculptures symbolizing Faith and Hope. in: -  http://iff.multimeios.pt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=172&Itemid=242