Portugal for Travellers and Tourists » Tag Archive » Portugal for Travellers and Tourists

2 thirds of the world was discovered by Portugal

theperfecttourist — Sun, 15 Feb 2015 19:57:53 +0000

Did you know that?

Here some dates and places:

1434 – Cape Bojador
1471 – Ecuador
1488 – Cape of Good Hope
1498 – India
1500 – Brazil
1513 – China
1522 – Australia
1542 – California
1543 – Japan
1550 – New Zealand

Templar Order in Portugal

theperfecttourist — Sat, 17 Jan 2015 22:57:44 +0000

The Templar Knights were created in 1118 in Jerusalem by nine French knights, to protect the pilgrims who traveled to holy places conquered in the Holy Land during the Crusades. Legend has it that the first riders settled in the ancient Temple of Solomon, where they found documents and treasures that made them powerful. It is said they had the guardianship of the Holy Grail, the cup which collected the blood of Jesus Christ on the cross and that had already been used at the Last Supper. In the 14th century took place the dissolution of the Order by the persecutions of Philip, King of France, and the Templars took refuge in Portugal. Under the auspices of D,Diniz, who founded the Order of Christ – based in the Convent of Tomar – and inherited the assets of the Portuguese Templars that played a central role in the Portuguese Discoveries.

Palace of the Dukes Bragança- In Guimarães, the city where Portugal was born

theperfecttourist — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 11:57:59 +0000

Majestic manor house of the fifteenth century constructed by order of D. Afonso – the future Duke of Bragança , bastard son of King John I – which became his and his second wife, D.Constança de Noronha, residence . Palace of vast dimensions , architectural features of fortified house , roofing and numerous strands of strong cylindrical chimneys denoting the influence of stately architecture of Northern Europe, it is a unique example in the Iberian Peninsula .

The 16th century marks the beginning of the consequent ruin which worsened until the 20th century. The rebuilding of the palace began in 1937 and lasted until 1959 , when it is open to the public and was transformed into a museum whose estate is dated from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries .

The existing collections are distinguished by its contribution to the history of the Portuguese Discoveries , the set of the four copies of the tapestries of Pastrana whose design is attributed to the painter Nuno Gonçalves ( 15th century ) , which narrate some of the footsteps of the achievements in Northern Africa, namely Asilah and Tangier . The originals were sent running in Tournai , in the fifteenth century by the Portuguese king D. Afonso V lying in Spain today . Copies ( only ) were acquired by the Portuguese in 1957 and executed in Spain for Real Madrid Tapices Factory . The Flemish tapestries , particularly those that have been implemented in accordance cards Pieter Paul Rubens , whose themes are episodes from the life of a Roman Consul . These tapestries are notable for drapery and shadow plays . It is also part of the estate of the museum furniture of the post- Portuguese discoveries , that deserves special mention by the set of counters , since the Indo- Portuguese , the Moorish- Mudejar style , the beautiful Spanish bargeños . Decorating the furniture one can find a large collection of India´s Company porcelain and Portuguese faience of the major factories: Prado, Viana, Rocha Soares and Mouse . In one of the rooms are exposed some of the weapons that were collected by the second Viscount Pindela and later acquired by the Portuguese state , whose collection includes several examples of melee weapons , fire and armor elements of the XV century. The building is classified as a National Monument .