The António Duarte (1912-1998) Atelier and Museum was inaugurated in 1985, after the donation made by sculptor António Duarte of his art collection to his hometown, the city of Caldas da Rainha. The initial idea was to provide the building with a workshop space that could give conditions to invited artists to develop their personal […]
The Largo do Carmo is currently a calm, tranquil square even if it has been the scene of some of the most turbulent moments in Portuguese history. The Pombaline buildings and the 18th century fountain in the centre of the square are evidence of the reconstruction work carried out in the wake of the devastation […]
Dating back to the end of the 15th century, the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Pópulo was the chapel of the spa hospital founded by the queen, Dona Leonor. Architecturally, it belongs to the early Manueline cycle, its bell-tower being most imposing because of its beauty and grandeur. The single-nave interior contains some admirable decorative […]
This chapel, which has been classified as a Building of Public Interest, was built in the first years of the town’s life, being intended for the use of the rural population who were gradually moving into Caldas. It was remodelled in the early 18th century, when the walls were covered with tiles depicting the life […]
Situated in one of Lisbon’s most important historic quarters, the Centro Cultural de Belém is an emblematic cultural space. This contemporary art centre comprises various temporary exhibition spaces and several concert and lecture halls, as well as a recreational and educational area specially dedicated to a younger audience. The cafeteria and its outdoor terrace afford […]
Officially created in 1983, the Ceramics Museum is housed in the Quinta Visconde de Sacavém, acquired for this purpose by the state in 1981. Having begun as a small group of pieces acquired by the Portuguese state, together with pieces from the collection of the Viscount of Sacavém, the museum’s exhibits now include examples of […]
Imagine a site that offers some of the most daring examples of contemporary architecture, the Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe, delightful thematic gardens, exhibition centres, shows and events. All located along a breathtaking 5 km stretch of the Tagus riverfront, in the heart of Lisbon, with easy access and parking, and benefiting from […]
On the 1st November 1755 a violent earthquake, followed by equally devastating fires, destroyed the centre of Lisbon. The Royal Palace, the House of India, aristocratic palaces, the Opera House that was still under construction, art and royal treasures were all irreversibly lost. From the ruins of medieval Lisbon came a zone redesigned along modern […]
Outside the walls of Óbidos, be sure to visit this sanctuary, with its external hexagonal shape and pyramidal green glazed roof. It was built between 1740-47, at the height of the Baroque period, but the details were never finished, which may be why some of the windows look oddly upside down. It is dedicated to […]
Also known as the Capela de São João de Moxarro, this chapel was once a temple dedicated to Jupiter. Rebuilt in the 14-15th century, it has a majestic west-facing Gothic portal. Attention is drawn to the double-arched ribbed vaulting supported by columns with curiously decorated capitals.
Royal Council Building The Praça do Município (Municipal Square), with its harmonious proportions and enclosed by Pombaline buildings, was built after the earthquake of 1755 to house the Senate whose palace had been in Rossio. By shifting the Senate building here, Pombal was symbolically placing local power close to central power. In the centre of […]
This originally Gothic chapel was rebuilt at the end of the 16th century. It has been the home of the Third Order of St. Francis since 1730. Amongst the notable features on the inside of the chapel are the Spanish-Moorish tiles of the high altar. Photo: jfsmariapedrosobral.pt