Exploring with my camera
Early afternoon in Campo Maior felt like being in a remote and lonely part of Portugal, near the Spanish border, yet we were only two hours away from Lisbon Airport! It was raining again as we left Campo Maior but along the road to Arronches the … Continued
Today’s photographs were taken with the Canon Powershot 200 SCX in one hand while the other hand gripped an umbrella. The camera was set on Live View and shots edited in Lightroom. It is an extraordinary little camera which even copes with shots … Continued
The clouds were low and it was dark and wet as we set off from Vila Viçosa for the Pousada at Flor da Rosa. We could have whizzed directly there up fast, new roads, 85 km in 1.5 hours, but then you see … Continued
Does monotone convey the atmosphere of Mourão Castle more strongly…
Mourão was another of the border towns disputed by Spain and Portugal in the 13C until in 1297 King Dinis signed the Treaty of Alcañices with the Spanish King, Fernando IV, and Mourão became a Portuguese possession, although the fighting and disputes … Continued
The Iberian Peninsula has been inhabited for an eye-popping length of time, and this is evident in the area around Monsaraz as seen in the many megalithic sites – antas, circles, standing stones dating from c.5,000 BC or earlier.
The countryside was exquisite – flowers everywhere in shades of pink, yellow, purples, and whites tinged with colour, and with a wonderful sweetness in the air. Cork oaks and olive trees on grassy hillsides and goats, cattle and sheep – I … Continued
The Castle of Terena was one of the chain of castles either built or fortified by King Dinis (1261-1365) to protect the borders of Portugal from Spain. The castles in this area (we were based in Vila Vicosa) are Elvas, Juromenha, … Continued
We set off from the Pousada D João IV in Vila Viçosa to explore castles along the Portuguese border with Spain.
