early morning shadows

Zafra (Badajoz - Extremadura), Spain

There is something magical about Zafra's Plaza Grande.

a diamond in the rough

Zafra (Badajoz - Extremadura), Spain

Zafra, for me, was an unexpected treasure just waiting to be found!  It was one of those moments when you have no expectations whatsoever, and in the end you are blown away!  I immediately fell in love with Zafra when I saw its Plaza Grande and Plaza Chica lying in the heart of this wondrous town.

Zurbarán

Llerena (Badajoz - Extremadura), Spain

Seventeenth century Spanish painter, Francisco Zurbarán, known for his religious paintings and the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, lived part of his life in Llerena.  Some of his paintings can be seen in the church, Nuestra Señora de la Granada, in the background of this picture.

splendid patios

Llerena (Badajoz - Extremadura), Spain

We sometimes walk by buildings without realizing the beauty they hold inside.  This is what I discovered when I walked into the hotel Mirador de Llerena.

rooftop views

Llerena (Badajoz - Extremadura), Spain

The rooftop of the hotel Mirador de Llerena offers wonderful views of Llerena's main square and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Granada with its baroque façade and its two story arched balcony added later in the 18th century.

Alentejano

Serpa, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

...whitewashed towns, hard-working and hospitable people, olive groves, vineyards, cork oaks, marble, rolling plains, livestock, cured hams and sausages, cheese, natural parks, medieval villages, castles and beaches...  These are just a few things that describe Alentejo and anything "alentejano"...  simply wonderful!

olives and whitewashed villages

Portel, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Alentejo is full of whitewashed villages with olive trees dotting the countryside.  This picture has been taken from the castle wall which saw its first stone placed in the 13th century.

picture perfect skies

Redondo, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

I love the churches in the Alentejo Region!

 
Igreja de São Pedro - 16th century

inside the castle walls

Alandroal, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

This late 13th century castle stands strong today with much of it still intact.  Take a walk around the castle walls and observe the landscape beyond.

towers and walls

Alandroal, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Alandroal is one of many fortified villages remaining along the border between Portugal and Spain, each one having its own unique qualities.  The castle here dates from the late 13th century.

What lies ahead?

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

What lies at the end of this road?  Don't be shy; be adventurous and find out!

shadows and shapes

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

After a day of walking through centuries of history, this was the perfect way to end my day with no need to be at any particular place at any particular time.

picture perfect

Marvão, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

A picture perfect house in a picture perfect setting...

a life full of experiences

Marvão, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

As I was leaning my back up against a wall with my foot kicked back and supporting the rest of my weight on one leg, this man stopped, raised his head, looked at me and said with a cute grin "Are you holding up the wall because you're afraid it is going to fall down?".  I hope I have this man's sense of humor when I reach his age!  He put a smile on my face.

medieval castles

Marvão, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

You can spend hours and hours gazing in the distance from this incredible 11th-13th century castle and really only hear the breeze whispering by you.

I can see for miles and miles...

Marvão, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

On a clear day, you really can see for miles and miles...

beautiful homes high up

Marvão, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Another town built high up in the São Mamede mountain range and neighboring Castelo de Vide just under 10 kilometers away is this one, Marvão!  Don't miss it as it is full of beautiful white-washed homes with a lot of charm and spectacular views built inside a fortified village with a castle from the 11-13th centuries.  The Nobel prize-winning Portuguese writer, José Saramago, wrote "From Marvão one can see the entire country".  The town's name comes from an 8th century Muslim duke by the name of Ibn Marwan who controlled the area in the 8th century.

I agree with the New York Times bestseller book "1000 Places to See Before you Die" when they say this is one of a thousand places you must see before you die!

cork

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Portugal is the leading cork producer in the world, accounting for almost 50% of world production.  Cork is obtained from the bark of this cork oak tree once the tree is about 25 years old and can then be harvested every nine years.  The average life of this tree can be as long as 150 years and it is illegal to cut one down unless special permission is granted by the authorities.

It is a beautiful sight driving around the Alentejo Region observing the wonderful hues of brown resulting from these trees.

magical silence

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Built in the 16th century, this chapel, Nossa Senhora da Penha (Our Lady of the Rock), was built on a hill overlooking Castelo de Vide.  I highly recommend coming here to experience the magical silence that exists for miles around you, along with the spectacular views.

standing tall

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

This medieval town, set on a hill in the São Mamede mountain range, was an important stronghold close to the Spanish border.  Today, it is a town full of charm where time seems to stand still.  It holds a castle dating from the 14th century, a beautiful Jewish quarter containing the oldest synagogue in Portugal as well as more than 30 churches and chapels, all to be found strolling through its winding cobbled streets.

tranquility

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Visiting remote villages like Castelo de Vide slows your pace and makes you disconnect and step back from it all - at least for a while, that is.

doors with charm

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

The charm of many doors around the castle area of Castelo de Vide takes me back in time.

quaint corners

Lisbon, Portugal

The area of Alfama is a must when visiting Lisbon.

beach homes south of Lisbon

Costa da Caparica, Portugal

Just minutes from Lisbon, you can find wonderful beaches like this one!

Baixa

Lisbon, Portugal

Christmas decorations line the streets of the Baixa neighborhood.

 

Tagus River Promenade

Lisbon, Portugal

Enjoy a wonderful stroll in the Parque das Nações neighborhood on this walkway along the Tagus River.

Parque das Nações

Lisbon, Portugal

This neighborhood, Parque das Nações, created in the 1990s for the 1998 World's Fair, is full of modern buildings like this one, Vasco da Gama shopping mall.

Vasco da Gama

Lisbon, Portugal

This modern area of Lisbon was built for the World's Fair held in 1998, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the discovery by Vasco da Gama of the sea route from Europe to India.  The bridge in the background, named after this explorer, is the longest bridge in Europe.

os Jerónimos

Lisbon, Portugal

This monastery in Lisbon represents the Manueline-stlye architecture (Portuguese late Gothic) as was classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

Age of Exploration

Lisbon, Portugal

This monument is located on the banks of the Tagus river and takes the shape of a ship.  Its 33 figures represent important explorers, monarchs, cartographers, artists, scientists and missionaries from the Portuguese Age of Discovery.