One day in the same city. Lisbon and its suburbs., Portugal

Portugal

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One day in the same city. Lisbon and its suburbs.

Spend one day in Lisbon is like that to take up a thick book, read it and understand the preface - book something very interesting! And then regret it close, putting reading indefinitely ...

Spend one day in Lisbon is like that one action to solve a complex puzzle with many unknowns - which way to go, what to see, what to visit, what to move, how to catch?
Founded Lisbon long time ago, a few thousand years ago, but gray ancient antiquities are not so much. The city was almost completely destroyed during the 1755 earthquake, which was followed by a tsunami and fires. And then many years recovering the best architects of the country.

Pristine preserved only one quarter of its - Alfama. He is like a little old village in the middle of a big modern city. Wander through it can be infinite. Its streets are narrow and winding and very steep. Not every small car will overcome such ups!

But the old Lisbon trams quite cope with it. This tram takes you up to the ramparts, which towers over the city.

Behind it you get into the wonderful park with ponds, the ruins, with a museum and panoramic site.
View of the city from there amazing!
Lisbon is nestled on the hilly banks of a broad and deep river Tagus flows into the Atlantic Ocean.
From Vasco da Gama set sail to discover new ground. At the place where he sailed with his expedition to India, worth an architectural marvel - "Torre de Belem". Looks like a romantic castle, but in fact an impregnable fortress, part of the fortifications of the city. For residents of the country it has always been and remains a symbol of the former power Portugal.

And the Vasco da Gama, the discoverer and the governor of Portugal in India, was awarded the highest honor - on a par with the kings buried in the church of the Virgin Mary at the Monastery of Jeronimos.

In this monastery Vasco da Gama and his companions spent the night in prayer before heading to India. After the successful return of the expedition, the monastery was rebuilt with the money earned from the trade of Indian spices. Since then, all the sailors come here to pray before the departure and return, and during their long absence - their mothers, wives and brides. Many of them, and not waiting for their men back, settled in the monastery forever.

And right in front of the monastery near the water rises a monument to all Portuguese sailors.

These same honor in 1922, two Portuguese aviator made on this seaplane nonstop flight across the Atlantic - from Portugal to Brazil.

And we keep the path to the north. The farther from the center, the modern architecture.

Outside the window flashed the original structure of glass and concrete.
Many of them were built for the International Exhibition held here "EXPO 1998".
We are moving away from the river and climb higher and higher.
Our goal - Queluz and Sintra. They are on the outskirts of Lisbon, and in earlier times was the residence of the Portuguese kings. Queluz and Sintra is in UNESCO heritage of mankind. Queluz Translated from the Portuguese Queluz (Queluz) means "a lot of light."

Royal Palace of Queluz called the Portuguese Versailles. The magnificent rooms of the palace, especially its elegant Throne Room,

and luxurious park is actually worthy of such a comparison.

The park hosts concerts of classical music and take in the palace dignitaries of the country.
I wonder whether the spirit calms the First Lady during these visits? Queen lost her mind when her son died of smallpox. They say that it cast still roams the couloirs of the palace and its visitors sometimes hear muffled groans and lamentations ... Sintra Sintra - a small town in the mountains, which can be called an open air museum. Here and fabulous Pena Palace, and Moorish Castle and the ruins of medieval castles, and the Capuchin monastery, and wonderful manor park Regaleira, which was conceived as the Garden of Eden. On the slopes of these mountains stretched forest park with exotic trees from around the world. "... So, Sintra, you manish magic variegated. A steep trail turns and loops, and the traveler, stopping often admires: what a wonderful view!" ... (George Byron, 1816)

We visited the Royal Palace "Villa de Sintra" Village. He more than six hundred years. Here the royal court spent the summer to escape the heat of the city. After all, in Sintra is always a little cooler than at the bottom.

Palace "decorate" tridtsatimetrovoy two conical tubes - chimneys, so to say hi-tech of those times.

Their grounds are huge palace kitchen.
Smoke, fumes and stench were in it day and night, trained there in a big way - dining room of the palace can accommodate up to a thousand guests.

Swan room.

Palace chapel.

Arms Hall.

But the real treasure of the palace is considered his rich collection of colored tiles "azulejos".

Interesting history of Forty Hall - there are depicted magpies with roses in their beaks, each forty symbolizes one of the ladies. Ladies love to gossip. For example, that their queen indifferent to women. Here is the king in anger and ordered them all to perpetuate the image of forty.
After inspecting the palace we have a little wander through the maze of narrow streets mountainous Sintra, stared at the souvenir shops and art galleries showcase.

Heard that Sintra is famous for its pastries and excellent wines, we did not hesitate to try both. Snack in the tavern, where he once would sit Lord Byron.

Dine there on a piece of cheese cake. It is baked according to an old secret recipe of local cheeses with the addition of almond liqueur.

A late afternoon descended again into the city. It was sad to leave Lisbon so quickly.
His charm charms. His story captures. Its residents have to communicate.
Its cuisine and wines give delight stomach and soul.
One last look at the city, the river, the statue of Christ (28-meter replica of the Brazilian 84-meter pedestal).
It is installed on people's donations in gratitude to God for that Portugal did not participate in the Second World War and escaped the destruction and loss.

06/03/2024

United States of America