Portugal. Go Deeper Into
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portugal. go deeper into culture think west contents THE SOUL 2 The Oceans 4 Cultural Encounters 6 Tiles 8 Fado 10 Fun and Festivities TIME AND PATHWAYS 12 Roots 14 Ramparts and Heritage 16 Holy Places 18 Museums 20 ETERNAL FUTURE Cover:View from the Tower of Belém to the Tagus River (15th century). The control tower for the sea traffic of the USEFUL INFORMATION Port of Lisboa (20th century) is visible in the background, Lisboa. 22 Go Deeper Backpage: A detail of a Manueline column of the 23 Map Unfinished Chapels of the Batalha Monastery, Lisboa region. 24 Contacts the oceans Following the Christian reconquest centre of learning for knights, sculptured motifs with a maritime and the defining of Portugal’s seafarers and cartographers, who theme – until the present time, national borders in the mid 13th from 1415 were pioneers in a long Portuguese art and inspiration have century – borders that have remained series of explorations. In far-off lands, been noticeably influenced by the sea. practically unchanged to the present from the coasts of Africa to the coasts However, as if this was a form of day - the Portuguese turned to the of India, from the seas of China to virtual reality or a dream that was sea and set out on expeditions that those of Japan, and to Brazil in the always possible, this sentiment goes would lead to the discovery of oceans West, the Portuguese were the first beyond art, as demonstrated by the and ports that were hitherto European maritime explorers and left last World Expo’ of the previous unknown.The fact of having a long behind them their language, religion, millennium, EXPO 98.Taking as its coastline and a passion for the sea art and science, at the same time as theme The Oceans, a Heritage for The were undoubtedly strong introducing commerce and cultural Future, the Portuguese once again motivations. Another determining exchanges with the most diverse showed their firm commitment to a factor was the resoluteness of Prince civilisations. route of discovery and to Henry, Grand Master of the Order of Since the time of the so-called safeguarding the earth’s largest, Christ – the Portuguese continuation Manueline style – late Portuguese deepest and most indispensable of the Knights Templar. He created a Gothic architecture featuring element. 2 1 2 the soul Main image: View over the Parque das Nações and the Tagus river in Lisboa. 1. Regatta on the river Tagus in front of the Tower of Belém, in Lisboa. 2.The Saint Catherine of Mount Sinai ship, Maritime museum, Lisboa. 10 WAYS TO ENJOY THE OCEANS > In Oporto, go down to the Ribeira, a UNESCO World Heritage area, and visit Prince Henry’s house (Casa do Infante D. Henrique). > Visit the Convent of Christ (Convento de Cristo) in Tomar in the Lisboa region, home of the Knights Templar. > In the Lisboa region, admire the Monastery at Batalha (Mosteiro da Batalha) that houses Prince Henry’s tomb and the Unfinished Chapels (Capelas Imperfeitas). > Find out everything about the maritime history of Portugal in the Naval Museum (Museu da Marinha) in Lisboa. > Climb up to the lookout on the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) (1960) and enjoy one of the most beautiful views of Lisboa. > Travel back in time to the era of the Portuguese Discoveries at the Tower of Belém (Torre de Belém) and the Monastery of Jerónimos (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) in Lisboa. > Visit the Lisboa oceanarium in the Parque das Nações. > In Setúbal, south of Lisboa, visit the Church of the Convent of Jesus (Igreja do Convento de Jesus) (14th and 15th centuries) and discover 15th century Portuguese paintings. > In the Algarve, discover the Sagres Promontory, the site of the famous Sagres School of Navigation, founded by Prince Henry the Navigator. > Have fun at Peter’s Sport Café in Horta on the island of Faial in the Azores, a meeting place for sailors from all over the world. And many more… 3 cultural encounters 1 2 Main image: Nambam Screen (16th century) – detail of a conversation between a Portuguese and Japanese person, National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisboa. 1. Adoration of the Magi by Vasco Fernandes (16th century), detail of a Magi King portrayed as an Indian from Brazil, Grão Vasco Museum, Viseu, Beiras. 2. Ivory Afro-Portuguese Saltcellar (16th century), National Museum of Ancient Art, Lisboa. 4 10 OTHER CULTURAL ENCOUNTERS > In the Municipal Museum at Viana do Castelo,(Porto e Norte region) you can find remarkable items of Indo-Portuguese the soul furniture as well as one of the largest collections of Portuguese ceramics. > Visit the Bolhão market in Oporto or Lavradores market in Funchal (Madeira) and go back in time to the colourful bustle of markets at the time of the Discoveries. > Also in Northern Portugal,see the Flemish tapestries in the Lamego Museum. > In Lisboa,discover the Anastácio Gonçalves House Museum (Casa-Museu Anastácio Gonçalves) and the Medeiros & Almeida Foundation (Fundação Medeiros e Almeida) with its collections of valuable Chinese porcelain. > In the Macau Scientific and Cultural Centre Museum (Museu do Centro Científico e Cultural de Macau) in Lisboa,learn about the major cultural ties between Portugal and China. > Enter the 18th century world of the Portuguese aristocracy and admire the artistic inspiration and influences at the Ricardo Espírito Santo Silva Foundation (Fundação Ricardo do Espírito Santo Silva) in Lisboa. > In the Church of São Roque (Igreja de São Roque) in Lisboa,be dazzled in the Chapel of St.John the Baptist (Capela de São João Baptista). > Enjoy vibrant music from Africa’s Portuguese-speaking countries and dance in the famous B’Leza,in a former Lisboa convent. > In the Alentejo,enjoy the surprise of seeing oriental porcelain from the Companhia das Índias and exhibits of Japanese Nambam art in the Portalegre Municipal Museum. > In the Museum of Sacred Art (Museu de Arte Sacra) in Funchal, learn about the importance of the island of Madeira in relation to the Orient Route. and many more…. At the time of taking its first steps as a according to European taste, as well as sampled both in the nature of the nation, Portugal was already a place in the famous Japanese Nambam people and their gastronomy.The where different cultures – Christian, screens, depicting the arrival of the Portuguese distinguish themselves Muslim and Jewish - lived peacefully Portuguese and their customs in from other nationalities by their together. But it was the contact with Japan. tolerance and openness towards other different civilisations throughout the In turn, the Portuguese came back cultures and by their diligence in 15th and 16th centuries that made to Europe with new ideas and understanding and trying to speak the Portugal a living example of the sciences, flavours, knowledge, precious languages of visitors. In Portuguese crossover of Portuguese and European stones and exotic timber.These cuisine, pepper, nutmeg and inspiration with the customs and exchanges of foreign products that cinnamon are just some of the many artistic heritage of other continents. were hitherto unknown stimulated spices that enhance the flavours of the This exoticism can still be seen today, scientific knowledge and the creation dishes, as well as other products that both when passing through the and purchase of specific masterpieces, used to be considered exotic in the streets of cities such as Lisboa and in from paintings to jewellery. past, but which having been museum collections. It is reflected in This cross-fertilization of introduced and made familiar by the African artefacts made of wood and inspiration and tastes has bequeathed Portuguese, have become as ivory, in Indo-Portuguese furniture, in an atmosphere of rare charm in indispensable as corn, tomatoes, rice Chinese porcelain decorated Portugal that can nowadays be and tea. 5 tiles In Portugal, tiles (azulejos) reminiscent However, it was not until the 18th where works by great Portuguese of the influence of the Moors during century that tiles began to “invade” artists such as Vieira da Silva or Júlio the Middle Ages were - and still are - churches, palaces, houses, gardens, Pomar are on permanent display. used here to a far greater extent than fountains and staircases. Based on Situated in the convent of the in most other European countries. geometric patterns and telling the life Madre de Deus Church in Lisboa, the Throughout Portugal, in streets, on story of saints or using secular themes National Tile Museum houses a façades and inside buildings, there are such as the fables of La Fontaine, magnificent collection of tiles, of tiles that represent the different styles sometimes using captions like an which the outstanding feature is a and languages of times past and early type of cartoon, tiles became the priceless blue and white mural present and fill any visit to the country main feature of Portuguese depicting a panoramic view of the city with colour. decoration. of Lisboa before the earthquake in Originating from the Arabic term Following a notable resurgence in 1755. Here, it is possible to see the al-zuleique meaning “small, smooth popularity in the second half of the historical, technical and artistic and polished stone”, the production of 20th century, tiles are now prominent development of the tile in Portugal, tiles in Portugal on a national scale again in public art, and it is a must to from the 15th century until the began at the end of the 15th century. visit the Lisboa underground stations present time. 6 MORE TILES THAT ARE WORTH SEEING > Dream of tiles - stay in magnificent manor houses such as the Solar da Rede de Mesão Frio and pousadas such as the one at the soul Santa Marinha in Guimarães (Porto e Norte region).