Archive for September, 2011

New set of photos of the staircase of Senhora da Piedade in Tomar

This is another set of photos shot at the staircase of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in the City of Tomar. I published a few similar photos last time but these ones show you different angles of this area. From here the landscape around me was just beautiful and on my right I could see the Castle of the Knights Templar and the Convent of Christ, which were always a pleasant presence in the distance.

No end to the staircase of Senhora da Piedade in the City of Tomar

From this position in the staircase of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in Tomar, I couldn't even see the end of this huge flight of stairs, and on my right is the Castle of Tomar

 

Staircase of Senhora da Piedade and the Convent of Christ in the City of Tomar

This is a famous staircase built in the 19th century, to answer the devotion of the people of Tomar to the patroness saint Senhora da Piedade, who gave the name to the 14th century chapel on top of the hill

 

Staircase of Senhora da Piedade and the Castle of the Knights Templar in Tomar

Another angle of this huge staircase leading to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade in Tomar. The landscape around is also beautiful and the Castle of Tomar and the Convent of Christ are constant presences

Details of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Tomar

I didn’t have the opportunity to visit the interior of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Tomar, because it was closed, but I took some pictures outside and here you can see some architectural details of the chapel outside. This place of worship is also known in English as Chapel of Our Lady of The Conception. The origin of the Portuguese word Conceição seems to be Concepção, therefore Conception in English.

Detail outside the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in the City of Tomar

Time wears everything out and this particular detail outside of the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Tomar, demonstrates why this place of worship is almost 500 years old

 

Windows outside the Chapel of Senhora da Conceição in Tomar, Portugal

Two windows outside the Chapel of Senhora da Conceição in the City of Tomar, which is a Renaissance structure, marking the abandonment of Gothic architecture

 

Bell at the Chapel of Senhora da Conceição in the City of Tomar in Portugal

I'm not sure how old is this bell outside the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição in Tomar, but it is possible that in almost 500 years it has been replaced a few times

Rooftops from the staircase of the Chapel of Senhora da Piedade in Tomar

I have already taken pictures of rooftops in the City of Tomar from the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade, but this time the rooftops of these photos were shot from the staircase of 286 steps that lead to the hill where the chapel was built in the 14th century (1512). Two of the photos were taken around the area of the garden of Varzea Pequena and Hotel dos Templários and the third one is a close up of rooftops at an old area o Tomar.

Rooftops from the staircase of Senhora da Piedade in the City of Tomar

This photo of rooftops was taken almost at the beginning of the staircase of 286 steps that leads to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade. The pink building is right next Hotel dos Templários

 

Rooftops near Hotel dos Templários in the City of Tomar

These are rooftops of a couple of houses near Hotel dos Templários, which can be seen behind them. This spot at Senhora da Piedade staircase is relatively close to the garden of Varzea Pequena

 

Rooftops  of the old part of Tomar from a huge staircase near Varzea Pequena

This photos was shot about midway the staircase that takes us to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Piedade and the rooftops belong to houses in an old area of Tomar

Lunch and dining at Rua dos Moinhos in Tomar, Portugal

This is a medieval street in Tomar called Rua dos Moinhos (Mills Street) and here you can find a few small eateries and restaurants just like this one on the photos below. Don’t be fooled by the humble environment of these eating houses, because the food can be outstanding and very well served. Some international chefs and cooks consider the Portuguese cuisine the most original in Western Europe thought it is not that well known.

Restaurant Casa Matreno in the City of Tomar in Portugal

I shot this picture by chance. I was just passing by and noticed the tables of a small restaurant at Rua dos Moinhos in Tomar and decided to capture the moment

 

Eatery Casa Matreno in Tomar, Portugal

Small and humble restaurant in a medieval narrow street in Tomar, called Rua dos Moinhos. This restaurant is called Casa Matreno and serves lunch and dinner

 

Family restaurant at Rua dos Moinhos in the City of Tomar in Portugal

My mother, wife and son near this restaurant at Rua dos Moinhos in the City of Tomar. This very old street is close to Everard Street (Levada) which you can see at some distance

Town Council at Praça da República in the City of Tomar

This is the building at Praça da República (Republic Square) that governs the Municipality of Tomar. For more details on the building and activities in Tomar you can visit the City Council site HERE, however most of it is in Portuguese, though in some cases you can find a summary in English at the bottom of the pages. According to their site, the Municipality of Tomar has “about 43,000 inhabitants that spreads through an area of 351 km2, is composed of 16 parishes and is located in the district of Santarém in the Ribatejo Province”.

City Council of the City of Tomar at Praça da República in Portugal

This is the facade of the City Council of Tomar. It is from here that the Municipality of Tomar, made of 16 parishes in an area of 351 square kilometers, is governed

 

Town Council of the City of Tomar at Praça da República in Portugal

Behind the building of the City Council of Tomar, located at Praça da República, you can see the Castle of the Knights Templar. This area is basically the centre of the town

 

Building of the TownCouncil of the City of Tomar in Portugal

Another angle of the Town Council of Tomar at Praça da República. At the time in 2010, there was an exhibition of paintings of the famous Portuguese artist Nadir Afonso

People crossing the bridge “Ponte de D. Manuel I” in Tomar

These photos show us a busy bridge in the City of Tomar, being crossed by lots of people. This is the Old Bridge of Tomar, apparently built by the Romans, but it is also called Ponte de D. Manuel I (Bridge of King Manuel I) because this Portuguese King ordered the bridge to be repaired at the end of the 15th century and again in the middle of the 16th century. The fist two photos were taken on a busy weekend during some cultural events in Tomar but the third was shot on a normal weekday.

People crossing the Old Bridge of the City of Tomar in Portugal

Photo of lots of people crossing the Old Bridge of Tomar on a weekend. There were some cultural events happening in town which attracted a good number of people

 

People crossing the bridge King D. Manuel I in the City of Tomar in Portugal

Although this bridge is a bit narrow due to its antiquity, cars can also cross it from one side of Nabão River to the other but it's mainly used by people

 

People crossing a Roman bridge in the City of Tomar in Portugal

This is the other side of the Old Bridge being crossed by people coming from old areas of the town of Tomar. Those white buildings in the distance are at Avenida Primeiro de Março

Walking or driving alongside Pegões Aqueduct in Tomar

The Aqueduct of Pegões near Tomar seems to stretch over six kilometres and in some areas you can drive or walk near the arches. That’s exactly what I did when I was there. First my sister in law Lucinda Moura drove us alongside the arches as you can see in the first photo and then we walked along some dirt roads nearby as shown in the other two photos. I found out later that the highest point of those arches is 30 metres high.

Asphalt road at the Aqueduct of Pegões near the City of Tomar in Portugal

This photo was shot when we stopped after driving alongside the arches of the Aqueduct of Pegões near the City of Tomar. The highest point here is about 30 metres high

 

Unpaved pathway at the Aqueduct of Pegões near the City of Tomar in Portugal

This is a dirt road at the Aqueduct of Pegões in Tomar where I walked for a while. Behind me is the inspection building of this Portuguese engineering achievement of the 16th century

 

Dirt road at the Aqueduct of Pegões near the City of Tomar in Portugal

Another unpaved road at Pegões Aqueduct, which is close to the City of Tomar in Portugal. Though dirt roads are mainly good for walking or riding a bicycle, apparently some cars also use this road

Hotel dos Templários water reflections at Nabão River

This area of Island of Mouchão Park is another beautiful spot of Tomar and the reflection of Hotel dos Templários and the vegetation around on the waters of Nabão River, will possibly delight your senses. This part of the river used to be navigable, I mean the Town Council of Tomar used to rent boats to tourists in this area who would paddle them upstream in the direction of Prado. By the way, Prado is a small place near Tomar where a paper factory was built in 1772 ordered by Marquês de Pombal, who was Head of the Portuguese Government at the time of the King D. José I (Joseph I of Portugal).

Water reflections of Templars Hotel at Nabão River in the City of Tomar

I took this photo of the reflection of Hotel dos Templários from the Island of Mouchão Park. Years ago this area of the river was used by tourists who would paddle rented boats upstream

 

Water reflection of Hotel dos Templários in the City of Tomar

A different angle of the reflection of Hotel dos Templários on Nabão River. You can't see it on this photo but on my left is Estalagem de Santa Iria, which is set in a lush garden on Mouchão Island

 

Hotel dos Templários and lush vegetaion at Nabão River in the City of Tomar

Further to the right you can see a partial view of this hotel, the lush vegetation on the other side of Nabão river and apartments which are located at a street called Estrada do Prado