Portugal for Travellers and Tourists » Arts and Culture Archive » Portugal for Travellers and Tourists

Calçada Portuguesa, Traditional Hand-made Portuguese Pavement

theperfecttourist — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 13:40:52 +0000

The Portuguese Pavements are a worthy heritage, a kind of decorative art mainly of Greek-Roman origin, is widely used to pave pedestrian areas,
streets, squares and other public or private spaces. Beside their functionality, the various decorative patterns made on the basis of chromatic contrast of stones give rise to works of significant aesthetic value, spread over every continent.

An uncertain future

Very few workers (calceteiros) will admit to enjoying this arduous labour, where long hours are spent painstakingly laying the stones in a prostrated position. Low wages fail to attract apprentices.Paved sidewalks also present hazards to pedestrians and unpleasant barriers to people with physical impairments. These pavements can be particularly treacherous when they are wet, presenting a glassy, low grip surface that can contribute to slips and falls. Moreover, the surface is prone to breaking up, and in doing so, presents dangerous trip hazards.

This method of paving has a high cost and reduced longevity in comparison with concrete-based or bituminous alternatives. They are, however, relatively easy to excavate (in order to access buried services) and reinstatement is almost invisible – not something that can be said for homogeneous surfaces that are left with unsightly patches as witness marks to previous interventions.

Once an activity performed by hundreds of craftsmen in Portuguese cities and villages, traditional paving is increasingly becoming restricted to conservation works or important architectural projects. Less abundant materials, dwindling numbers of craftsmen and criticism to its widespread use are forcing municipalities to consider other alternatives.

While São Paulo is currently reforming the sidewalks of its Paulista Avenue, one of the places in the city that has Portuguese pavement, and exchanging it for a more cheap and common type of pavement, in other Brazilians cities such as Rio de Janeiro it remains popular, nearly ubiquitous in the wealthier areas.

Mira´s Lagoon Caretos

theperfecttourist — Sat, 21 Sep 2013 15:51:54 +0000

In Mira´s Lagoon survives until today an inheritance with cultural content and distinctive historical and whose origin is lost in the mists of time.

The Lagoon Caretos, well known to all Mirenses, are unique and important Carnival figures that marks the local cultural identity. In a din of screams and rattles run all the strets, knowing everything and everyone. And those in the doorway, that await for passersby in days of Shrovetide, have to seek refuge in some hiding place. Formerly it was common to snag the unprepared girls, looking for slightly raise their long skirts which was called “taking the fluffy”

Medieval Times in Castro Marim

theperfecttourist — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 22:16:04 +0000

In August, Castro Marim returns to the Middle Ages in a historical recreation of great rigor.

For four days and nights, the castle of Castro Marim receives kings and queens, knights in shining armor, jesters, jugglers, and noble ladies. The entire court will parade before the admiring glances of the many visitors who move here every year.

Tournaments on foot and horseback, street theater performances, banquets enlivened by period music and a fair of goods and crafts, complete the animation of these Medieval Days bringing up to today the magic and mystery of other times.

Starts August 22nd and ends August 25th.

Don´t miss it!!