- Monserrate park
Again, no idea what this is. Some sort of blossoming succulent. - Monserrate park
I think this is some kind of cycad, but I really can't figure out which one. - Monserrate Main Hall
The ceiling in the Main hall. - Music room
The ceiling in the Music room. Apparently there is wonderful acoustic in this room. Not if it is crowded with tourists... - Gallery in Monserrate
- Gallery in Monserrate
- Monserrate Main Hall
I do have a soft spot for this kind of architecture. - Monserrate
In 1846, Francis Cook, the 1st Viscount of Monserrate, built this Gothic-Indian-Moorish-shiny-pretty palace. - Triton fountain
The base of the Triton fountain. What a lovely angry fish this is. - Monserrate
Triton fountain in the park of Monserrate. - Palácio Nacional de Mafra
- Palácio Nacional de Mafra
One of the largest royal palaces, this one was commissioned by João V and built in 1717-1755. And yes, there is wildfire smoke in the background. - Cloister
What a lovely cloister this is. - Doors in one of the cloister
I don't quite get these doors, to be honest. - Marble Hallway
- Room of discoveries
Ceiling in the Room of Discoveries by Bernardo António de Oliveira Góis (c. 1770-c. 1820) and Cyrillo Volkmar Machado (1748-1823). - Cabo Carvoeiro
- Cabo Carvoeiro
A fogbow, also known as white rainbow. Because, well, it forms on fog and is whitish. - Ilhéu da Papôa
If you look closely, you will see a catamaran in the fog. Well, the hull is hidden in the fog, but the sail peeks out. - Ilhéu da Papôa
- Hotel garden
- Praia da Gigi
- Praia da Gigi
- Praia da Gigi
What a wonderful misty - foggy - haary morning :-) - Fog!
I just learned a new word: sea fog is called haar. And yes, there was a lot of fog in the morning. - Sunset in Baleal
- Ilha de Fora
Another sunset in Baleal. Just beautiful. - Claustro de Santa Bárbara
And one of the many cloisters in the Monastery, this one was built in the 16th century. - Cistern
One of the many cisterns in the Monastery. - Refectory
Pulpit in the Refectory, which was build in 1535-1536. Royal coat of arms... and some strange faces. - Janela do Capítulo
The famous Manueline Window of the Chapter House (1510-1513). - Claustro Principal
A very 16th century Renaissance cloister. - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
São Cristóvão - Saint Christopher (1484-1500) - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
The Romanesque round church was built in the second half of the 12th century by the Knights Templar. - Convento de Cristo in Tomar
A lot of renovation was going on, so we entered through some side doors. This was the first thing that greeted us after climbing the stairs. At 40 deg C outside, these rooms were at least a bit cooler. - Capelas Imperfeitas
King Manuel I dedicated this portal to King Edward and the motto "Leauté faray tam yaserei" means "I will always be loyal". - Capelas Imperfeitas
- Capelas Imperfeitas
The portal was originally Gothic and transformed by Mateus Fernandes into Manueline style (1509). - Capelas Imperfeitas
Ah, the famous Unfinished Chapels, commissioned in 1437 by Dom Duarte. - Capelas Imperfeitas
Insanely beautiful detail. - Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
What a magnificent cathedral! - Claustro Real
- Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
What an insane attention to detail! - Founder's Chapel
The chapel was built in 1426-1434 by Huguet to become the first royal pantheon in Portugal. - Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory
The monastery was built to celebrate the 1385 victory over the Castilians. The church was built between 1386 and 1517. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
Founded in 1153 by Afonso Henriques and built in 1178-1252. The facade was added later, of course. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
This is the oldest gothic building in Portugal, and still the largest church in the country. - Cloister of Silence
- Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
Some old inscriptions on the cloister walls. - Chapter House
Statue of S. Gregorivs Magn in the Chapter House. - Gargoyle in the cloister
A rather interesting gargoyle. - Cloister of Silence
This cloister was built under King Dinis I (1261-1325). The Manueline top floor is from early 16th century. - The kitchen
What a kitchen! Built and covered with tiles in the 18th century. A channel carried water from Alcoa river directly through the kitchen (!) to get fresh water and fish. - Virgin Mary and child
I really like the visible hairstyle of Saint Mary. Unusual to see her hair so long and so curly. - Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça
Refectory, where the monks had their daily meals. - Fountain Hall
Gothic fountain hall in the cloister. - Hotel garden
Wonderful tiny garden of our hotel (Silver coast). - Ilha do Baleal
Northern tip of Ilha do Baleal and Ilha de Fora. - R. do Pôr do Sol
The street name says it all: sunset street. - Peniche from Baleal
Sunset in Baleal. What a wonderful place. And yes, I saw some dolphins there as well. - Ilha do Baleal
There are some oddly specific signs in Baleal... - Óbidos
Calcada da Misericordia - Óbidos
View of the town from the castle walls. - Óbidos
13th century castle, and one can walk on the walls. - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
- Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
Fado singers at the dinner - Quinta Pézinhos no Tejo
A wonderful setting for a wonderful dinner. - Caparica sunset
Another sunset in Caparica. But the Sintra hills are already cloudy. - Rosa dos Ventos
View from the Monument of the Discoveries. A wind rose and a world map. - Padrão dos Descobrimentos
View from the top of the monument. Ponte 25 de Abril, which is 2277 m long, was built in 1966. - Padrão dos Descobrimentos
Statue built in 1940/1960 to mark the 500-year anniversary of Henry the Navigator's death. - Tiles in Alfama
Finding little treasures while getting lost in Alfama. - History of Lisbon
A complete Lisbon history in one passage. Mural by Nuno Saraiva. Every city should have a mural like this one. - Miradouro de Santa Luzia
An angry fish at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia - Life is good in Lisbon
View from Miradouro de Santa Catarina - Caparica beach
Fishing boats on the Caparica beach. Still a very active fishing port. - Night in Caparica
View from our hotel room. - Ca d'oro
Ca d'oro or the Golden house. One of the best examples of Venetian Gothic architecture. It used to be gilded, therefore its name. - Venice Masks
One of the many many souvenir shops. - Piazza San Marco
- Punk Mona Buda?
I can totally imagine Jared Leto owning this. - Modern art
Well, modern art at is finest. Who wouldn't want a rhino in the living room? - Palazzo Cavalli-Franchetti
Another wonderful palace - one of the many. - Canal Grande
As seen from the Ponte dell'Accademia. - Campanile di Santo Stefano
Well, that is a very tilted bell tower. - Campo Manin
And another lovely building... - Scala Contarini del Bovolo
Snail's staircase. Another hidden gem. - A mascaron
Santa Maria Formosa. A mascaron above the main door to the campanile. - Santi Giovanni e Paolo
Tomb of Jacopo e Lorenzo Tiepolo, two doges, who dies in 1249 and 1275, respectively. - Santi Giovanni e Paolo
The interior of one of the largest churches in Venice, completed in 1430s. 25 doges are buried in this church. - Santa Maria Formosa
Built in 1492. - Ponte di Rialto
The oldest of the main four bridges in Venice. Finished in 1591. - Canal Grande
Canal Grande as seen from Ponte di Rialto. - Canal Grande
Typical Venice. As seen from Ponte di Rialto. - Basilica di San Marco
Basilica at night. - Procuratie Vecchie
Built in the beginning of the 16th century. - Procuratie Vecchie
The facade is made of Istrian limestone. - Procuratie Vecchie
Procurator of Saint Mark was the second most prestigious title (after the Doge). This was their office. - Ponte dei Sospiri
The Bridge of Sighs connects the Doge's Palace with the New Prison. - Ponte dei Sospiri
The view from this bridge was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. Even the window bars are made of stone.