PORTUGAL TOURS
This description of Lisbon and surroundings (Sintra, Estoril, Cascais, Sesimbra) was made to accompany the movie we made. Since the movie is accompanied by typical sounds like environmental sounds, Portuguese talking, birds, animals, music, etc, we didn’t want to spoil the sound and the explanation goes apart. Enjoy it.
Index:
CHURCHES
1-Churches (Cathedral)
2-Churches (Carmo Convent)
3-Churches (Hieronimytes Monastery)
4-Churches (Saint Rock’s church)
5-Churches (Saint Vincent’s Monastery)
6-Churches (Saint Engracia Basilica)
7-Churches (Mother-of-God Convent)
8-Churches (Saint Domingos Church)
9-Churches (Estrela Basilica)
10-Churches (Saint Anthony’s Church)
CHURCHES
1-Churches (Cathedral)
More than palaces, Lisbon has a greater artistic patrimony in churches.
The most ancient we visit is the cathedral, built in the end of the 12-century on the place of a former mosque. Although it was restored many times after the earthquakes, it keeps its original structure.
This was also the place of a Visigoth church 400 years before its construction.
This solid and robust construction of the 12 century was the first Christian temple made in Lisbon by the Portuguese and is one of the symbols of the independence of Portugal.
There is a large rose window with stained glass in the façade, which is simple and austere, characteristic of Romanesque style. The sober and narrow entrance, gives us the idea that this kind of constructions were used as a place of refuge in case of attack.
There isn’t much decoration in the interior to not disturb meditation, but the tone of colors provided by the few light which gets inside the temple through the few windows is celestial.
The main chapel is in baroque style of the 18 century.
The ambulatory around the main chapel dates from the 14 century, and it is said that was made to ease the flow of pilgrims who came to worship saint Vincent the martyr, who’s body was brought here in the 12 century.
2-Churches (Carmo Convent)
In the 14 century, there was a convent built, called Carmo. It is also known as the monument to the earthquake, since the ceiling fell with the shaking and no body rebuilt it because of the unstable ground. Nevertheless, the walls refused to go along with the ceiling, as well as the arches in gothic style, which stand still since they were made.
This convent was one of the biggest in Lisbon, close to Santa Justa Elevator, close to the center of the metropolis, where the traditional shopping area is available for more than 2000 years, and close to the river, like most of the ancient monuments and on ancient east section. We are going west, to the other side of the bridge, to Belem quarter, to see the Hieronimytes Monastery, in this ascendant chronological tour.
3-Churches (Hieronimytes Monastery)
The 316 meters long façade of the Monastery started in 1502 and finished in 1580, tell us about the will of the Portuguese during the apogee of the discoveries.
The south portal, a work of a French and Spanish artists, with statues of saints, apostles and doctors of the church, has in the focal point the statue of Our Lady of Bethlehem to whom the church is dedicated.
This is a beautiful lacework in stone, with statues of saints and navigators, maritime instruments, animals from Africa, vegetable elements, ropes in connection with boats, monsters of the ocean, medallions with faces of natives of different countries like America, Africa and India and so on is what we call Manueline style, a decoration in the special limestone of Lisbon. The 92 meters long church is 25 meters high and is considered a masterpiece of architecture that refused to give in to the earthquakes.
The outlook from the upper choir get us close to a statue of Christ made in the 16 century by a French artist. Many Portuguese artists were abroad working in the colonies, and artists from different countries in Europe came here to work, bringing influences from different countries.
The church looks like a maritime cave and the columns imitate palm-trees. It’s connected to the Portuguese trips and the designation Manueline style comes from king Manuel, who is buried in the Renaissance main chapel that we see at the end of the church. He was the king during the peak of the trade and he ordered the construction of this temple to be his pantheon and that constant masses would be said in his honor.
The stained glass windows are replicas, the original being destroyed by the tremble. Even so, the structure stood firm being the ceiling a masterpiece of architecture, which seems to be uphold in the sky by graceful palm-trees.
The new world had been recently found as the discovery of the sea way to the East, thus bringing new concepts, trade and wealth to the country, that was partly used on the construction of monuments like this. In less than 50 years, in its hey-day, dozens of similar big buildings were made in this beautiful embroidery in stone.
Near the entrance, close by the tomb of the poet Camoens, who wrote about the Portuguese trips, is also the tomb of Vasco da Gama, the navigator who arrived to India.
One should not miss the cloisters, the most beautiful in Europe. Here, the needlework in stone, conducted by the French artist Boytac and the Spanish Juan de Castillo, is so suggestive of the inspiration given by new found lands, that the Hieronymite monks had a good reason to think about the infinite. Here, the carved limestone with Manueline symbols makes people dream of other worlds in the variety of scenarios from different angles of the cloister. That’s the place were the monks meditated and lifted their spirits and no wonder they were here in control of high studies. This limestone is not only easy to work but gives us a different tone of color, depending on the position of the sun.
4-Churches (Saint Rock’s church)
Also from the 16 century but with a different look, in renaissance style, is Saint Rock’s church. It has a beautiful marble decoration, but what strikes us are the side chapels, where statues of saints mix with a rich decoration in gilt wood work, glazed tiles, marble, bronze, ivory, alabaster and luxury.
5-Churches (Saint Vincent’s Monastery)
Between the castle and the river, there are two remarkable churches, that we can see from the walls. One of them is Saint Vincent’s church, also in renaissance style, made in a polished white limestone, not far from marble, as we can see in the façade. In fact this limestone of Lisbon turns a beautiful marble with time.
It’s here the pantheon of the last kings of Portugal.
Blue and white glazed tiles in the cloisters are a nice surprise to us. Portugal is famous for glazed tiles and here we have a number of panels of 18 century inspired in La Fontaine tales. They are well kept and work as a history book, giving us an idea of how life was in the past. In reality, the famous Portuguese blue and white tiles were inspired in the porcelain coming from China, another connection with the Portuguese maritime expansion.
6-Churches (Saint Engracia Basilica)
Side by side with Saint Vincent there is another Church started in the same period, the 17-century.
The light at both by night enhances the white limestone.
Its round dome close by the towers of Saint Vincent can be seen from different parts of the city. The dome, 60 meters high, is considered a masterwork of architecture, falling several times during its construction. During the construction, the dome fell at the same time an innocent man was condemned to death. His last words were: “I am as innocent as you won’t complete that dome any time soon…
Its name is Saint Engrácia. Also the name of a female saint who was mortified slowly by the Romans until she died. The construction, although started in 1682, was only completed three hundred years later and the Portuguese often say about something that takes a long time, “that is so slow as the works of Saint Engracia”.
Anyhow, this is one of the most beautiful monuments of Lisbon, and an icon of the 17-century.
There are here cenotaphs of important Portuguese figures and tombs of politicians.
The interior is overwhelming. Seen from above, we can become aware of its height, 60 meters high, and, like in many other monuments of Portugal, the richness of marble, of several colors, an attribute of the variety of marble in this country.
7-Churches (Mother-of-God Convent)
Mother-of-God is a convent of the 16-century but restored in the 18 century with a rich decoration in gilt woodwork that matches the glazed tiles on the walls. It’s a good-looking combination of the 18-century, the blue and white of the tiles with the golden brightness of the gilt wood…
8-Churches (Saint Domingos Church)
This church, although built in the 18 century in baroque style, is on the place of another one of the 12 century, where the inhabitants of Lisbon came to pray everyday, like they still do, because it’s side by side with the center of Lisbon for centuries. Later, a fire damaged the interior and it still shows signs of the blaze. This is one of the biggest churches in Lisbon, majestic and lugubrious, so appropriate to meditation…
9-Churches (Estrela Basílica)
At the peak of another hill there is a church with an outstanding dome. This one took only eleven years to be built, from 1779 to 1790. This was after the earthquake, when the reconstruction of the country developed the skills of architecture. Famous Portuguese artists worked here, like the school of sculptors making fine statues on the doorway. The interior is impressive with marble of various colors. The dome is elegant, but to go up there, 278 steps must be climbed.
This Basilica was erected to fulfill a promise of queen Mary I if she would have a son, a descendant to the throne, from her husband and uncle, king John VI.
There are two elegant bell towers, containing 11 bells, weighing 1 and a half tons each.
10-Churches (Saint Anthony’s Church)
And the last homage we pay is to saint Anthony. We visit now the church built on the place where saint Anthony of Padua was born in 1195.
This church, which dates from the end of the 18-century, was financed by the alms of the inhabitants of Lisbon and its baroque style shows lively colors.
This little church is known all over the world, by the pilgrims dedicated to this saint who helps lost cases and things and girls to find an husband…
In the main chapel there is his statue, which comes out to the feasts of Lisbon every 13th of June of every year.