Portugal: Viseu

Settled during the period of the early Iberian Castro culture, the territory of Viseu was populated by a series of cultures including the Romans, Suebs, Visigoths and Moors. The city is also a cultural center, home to the nationally acclaimed Grão Vasco Museum, seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Viseu, and pole of national universities, including the Catholic University of Portugal.

Thanks to Mr Miguel. He says its a lovely place to live and visit. To know more about this city visit www.visitviseu.com.

Portugal: Bom Jesus De Monte, Braga

Bom Jesus do Monte is a Portuguese sanctuary in Tenões, outside the city of Braga, in northern Portugal. Its name means Good Jesus of the Mount. The Sanctuary is a notable example of pilgrimage site with a monumental, Baroque stairway that climbs 116 meters (381 feet). It is an important tourist attraction of Braga.

Thanks to Ines.

Portugal: April Bridge, Lisbon

The 25 de Abril Bridge is a suspension bridge connecting the city of Lisbon, capital of Portugal, to the municipality of Almada on the left (south) bank of the Tagus river. It was inaugurated on August 6, 1966, and a train platform was added in 1999.

Thanks to Ms Ines.

Portugal: Lisbon

Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal, with a population of 552,700 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km². Lisbon is recognised as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism.

Thanks to Dr Kiran Acharya.

Portugal: Cordoba

Córdoba , also called Cordova in English, is a city in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. The old town contains numerous architectural reminders of when Corduba was the capital of Hispania Ulterior during the Roman Republic and capital of Hispania Baetica during the Roman Empire; and when Qurṭubah was the capital of the Islamic Emirate and then Caliphate of Córdoba, including most of the Iberian Peninsula.

Portugal: Map

Portugal is a republic country. It is the westmoast country in mainland Europe. It is named after its second largest city Porto. Portugal is the oldest country in Europe. It is the largest cork producer in the world. Half of the "new world" once belonged to Portugal. Lisbon is capital of Portugal. 

Thanks to Joao Nogueira.

Portugal: Pico Island Vineyard Culture

The Landscape of the Pico Island Vineyard Culture is a Unesco World Heritage Site.

The vineyard is divided into plots (currais) protected by walls (paredes, murinhos). The walls are built with basalt blocks that have been weathered and broken up and stacked without mortar. Viticulture dates back to the 15th century.

Thanks to Ms Joana of Portugal.

Portugal: Christ Convent

Originally designed as a monument symbolizing the Reconquest, the Convent of the Knights Templar of Tomar (transferred in 1344 to the Knights of the Order of Christ) came to symbolize just the opposite during the Manueline period – the opening up of Portugal to other civilizations. 

Thanks to Ms Joaninha.

Portugal: Monastery of the Hieronymites and Tower of Belém in Lisbon

Standing at the entrance to Lisbon harbour, the Monastery of the Hieronymites – construction of which began in 1502 – exemplifies Portuguese art at its best. The nearby Tower of Belém, built to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition, is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world. 

Postcard 1: Monastery of the Hieronymites

Thanks to Ms Ninocas.

Postcard 2: Tower of Belem

Thanks to Ms Johninha.

Portugal: Sintra

In the 19th century Sintra became the first centre of European Romantic architecture. Ferdinand II turned a ruined monastery into a castle where this new sensitivity was displayed in the use of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance elements and in the creation of a park blending local and exotic species of trees. Other fine dwellings, built along the same lines in the surrounding serra , created a unique combination of parks and gardens which influenced the development of landscape architecture throughout Europe.

Postcard 1: Multiview

Thanks to Ms Marta

Postcard 2: Pena National Palace

This card comes from postcard meet. Thanks everyone.

Portugal: Monastery of Batalha

The Monastery of the Dominicans of Batalha was built to commemorate the victory of the Portuguese over the Castilians at the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385. It was to be the Portuguese monarchy's main building project for the next two centuries. Here a highly original, national Gothic style evolved, profoundly influenced by Manueline art, as demonstrated by its masterpiece, the Royal Cloister.

Thanks to Ms Ana Santos.

Portugal: Évora

This museum-city, whose roots go back to Roman times, reached its golden age in the 15th century, when it became the residence of the Portuguese kings. Its unique quality stems from the whitewashed houses decorated with azulejos and wrought-iron balconies dating from the 16th to the 18th century. Its monuments had a profound influence on Portuguese architecture in Brazil.

Thanks to Ninocas for the lovely card. 

Portugal: Azores

Situated on one of the islands in the Azores archipelago, this was an obligatory port of call from the 15th century until the advent of the steamship in the 19th century. The 400-year-old San Sebastião and San João Baptista fortifications are unique examples of military architecture. Damaged by an earthquake in 1980, Angra is now being restored.

Thanks to Ms Rita Simoes who was visiting Portugal.

Portugal: Alcobaça Monastry

The first king of Portugal Afanso Henrique decided to build a church to celebrate the conquest of  Santarems to the Moors, in 1147. The church later evolved to become Alcobaca Monastry.

Thanks to Martina. 

Portugal: Silves

The town of Silves is located on a hill above the Arade river. It lies in  Southern Portugal and is famous for orange grooves.

Thanks to Manuel who sent me this card from Silves.

Portugal: Oporto

Located along the Douro river estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire.

                                   

Thanks to Ms Grace.