regional dress

Miranda do Douro (Norte Region), Portugal

Miranda do Douro is located on the border with Spain, with the Douro River separating the two countries, forming part of the International Douro Natural Park, one of thirteen national parks in Portugal.  These peculiar bronze statues (José Antonio Nobre, 2006) can be found in the João III Square in the middle of this town, representing the traditional regional dress of the rural people of this area.

hanging on the edge...

Cuenca (Cuenca - Castilla la Mancha), Spain

Remarkable views of Cuenca from afar.

more than just nature...

Cuenca (Cuenca - Castilla la Mancha), Spain

Not only is the historic walled town of Cuenca surrounded by natural beauty sitting high above a gorge formed by the river Júcar and its tributary, Huécar, but its architecture and numerous museums also make this town worthy of a visit.  The Cathedral of Cuenca began construction in the late 12th century, built where a mosque once stood, and is said to be one of the the first Gothic style cathedrals in Spain, mixed with elements of the previous Romanesque period.

This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a magical place to be explored. If you have never visited Cuenca, I highly recommend it.  It ranks high on the list of places I have visited in Spain.

Cathedral Square

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

Dom St. Marien (St. Mary's Cathedral) and Severikirche (St. Severus Church) stand next to each other on Domberg Hill and overlook the Domplatz (Cathedral Square) adorned with typical German architecture.  Germany is known for its elaborate Christmas markets and it is here where Erfurt celebrates theirs.

winter wonderland

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

A view of Erfurt from above shows many church steeples as well as the river that that passes through the city.  The rooftops of the buildings from the Krämerbrucke (grocers' bridge) that I mentioned in another post can be seen in the foreground.

(click on the picture to enlarge it)

creepy door knocker

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

This creepy door knocker comes from the Dom St. Marien (St. Mary's Cathedral), the oldest church in Erfurt dating back to the early 9th century, combining Romanesque and Gothic elements.

city center

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

This centrical square - the Anger - has been considered the new city center of Erfurt during the 20th century as all tram lines are linked here.  Many important historical buildings can be found dating from the 18th century and beyond.

houses built on a bridge

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

Probably the most famous sight in Erfurt is what you see on the right-hand side of this picture - the 15th century Krämerbrücke (grocers' bridge) - 32 half-timbered houses and shops built on a bridge over a river.  This bridge was originally built out of wood in the 12th century and contained several stands selling food and other miscellaneous items.  Because of numerous fires over the centuries, the bridge was rebuilt out of stone with buildings instsead of stands.  The funny looking wooden structure on the left is a multi-dwelling bird house!

old and new

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

snow-covered rooftops

Erfurt (Thüringen), Germany

Johann Sebastian Bach's father, Johann Ambrosius Bach, was born in Erfurt and is the city in which he was married.  Johann Pachelbel also served as organist at a church in this city and composed over seventy pieces here.  Because little of Erfurt was destroyed during World War II, the center offers a variety of medieval, baroque and classical architecture.  In addition, there are over 25 churches and monasteries in the center of Erfurt, most of them in the Gothic style and some Romanesque.

eternal love

Alcobaça (Centro Region), Portugal

Pedro and Inês' tombs in the Monastery of Alcobaça.  At first sight, people wonder why they weren't placed side by side as kings and queens usually are.  Click here to discover the reason.

home

Eau Galle, Wisconsin - USA

squeezed in the middle

Lisbon, Portugal

popular place

Cascais (Lisbon Region), Portugal

Cascais is a popular tourist destination among Portuguese people and other nationalities.  Its port is full of boats of all sizes.

stunning

Azenhas do Mar (Lisbon Region), Portugal

This amazing little town on the Atlantic was a complete unexpected surprise.  I was driving along the jagged coastline, turned a corner and saw this.  It literally took my breath away.  There was no place to stop the car, so I kept going, stopped where I could, got out of the car and walked back to this point.  This moment will never be erased from my mind.

Portugal is full of an infinite number of unexpected moments like this one.

detail

Cascais (Lisbon Region), Portugal

Artistic touches abound the walkways of Portugal.

unforgettable views

Santa Cruz (Centro Region), Portugal

Portugal's coastline offers views like this, one after the other, after the other, after the other...

If I could, I would snap my fingers and stay here for the weekend!

set in a sandy bay

Cascais (Lisbon Region), Portugal

Just 25 kilometers from Portugal's capital city, Cascais became a town as early as the 14th century.  Set in a sandy bay on the Atlantic Ocean, it is a popular tourist destination today.

shades of brown

Urueña (Valladolid - Castilla y León), Spain

Every shade of brown imaginable is found throughout this village in the heart of Castilla y León.  Its rooftops create a beautiful sight for the eyes with the blue sky as a backdrop.

for eternity

Batalha (Centro Region), Portugal

This simple, but moving tomb can be found in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Monastery of Batalha - 15th century King Duarte of Portugal and his Spanish wife Leonor de Aragón.

sandy white beaches

Peniche (Centro Region), Portugal

Portugal's vast number of magnificent beaches never disappoint.

a combination that never fails

Alcobaça (Centro Region), Portugal

Balconies, windows, ceramic tiles - a combination that never disappoints in Portugal.

doorways rich in history

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

Gothic doorways like this one can be seen in abundance throughout the Jewish Quarter of Castelo de Vide.

Jewish Quarter

Castelo de Vide, Portugal - Region of Alentejo

During the Middle Ages, a large population of Jewish people resided in this whitewashed village housed among an intricate network of narrow cobbled streets with Gothic doorways.  Here is said to be the oldest synagogue in the country.

sandy coastline

Costa Nova do Prado - Ílhavo (Centro Region), Portugal

The beaches of this region are definitely worthy of a visit.

symmetry

Aveiro (Centro Region), Portugal

Aveiro is built on an estuary next to the Atlantic Ocean and has a series of canals where boat rides, like the ones in this picture, can be taken.  Minutes away from the city, many kilometers of sandy beaches can be found.

colorful doorways

Milan (Lombardy Region), Italy

I wouldn't mind coming home to a doorway like this!  Here's a splash of color to brighten your day!

views from above

Lovere (Bergamo - Lombardy Region), Italy

The lake region in northern Italy is a paradise for the eyes.  This picture overlooks Lake Iseo.

time

Mogadouro (Norte Region), Portugal

Time... something to treasure. 
 

small touches

Mogadouro (Norte Region), Portugal

Small touches change everything.

Rua das Flores

Coimbra (Centro Region), Portugal

Add a little color to your life; it makes a world of difference!
 

sunlight on the cathedral

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

As the sun was starting to set for the day, this angle of the cathedral captured my attention as I was walking around the city.

sunny details

Valladolid (Castilla y León), Spain

Look up when you're walking around a city and you'll see it with different eyes.

Cathedral of Valladolid

crazy looking trees

Frómista (Palencia - Castilla y León), Spain

These funny looking trees are like this because the branches are tied together when the tree is very young, and apart from that they are pruned every year, resulting in what you see in the picture!  Believe it or not, these trees grow an abundance of leaves in the spring and are wonderful shade trees!

The church in the background is San Martín de Tours and was built in the second half of the 11th century and is considered to be a fine example of European Romanesque architecture.

timbers and brick

Toro (Zamora - Castilla y León), Spain

This ancient town dates back to the time before the Romans.  It is full of constructions which use timbers and brick.

streets full of history

Zamora (Castilla y León), Spain

This picturesque street of Zamora, Balborraz, originates in the main square of the city and has been a street lined with shops of artisans since the 10th century.

horses wandering freely

Parque Natural Saja-Besaya (Cantabria), Spain

pumpkins galore

Pepin, Wisconsin - USA

Shades of orange abound in October!

golden treasures

Eau Galle, Wisconsin - USA

memories of being on the lake...

lake views

Eau Galle, Wisconsin - USA

the simples pleasures of a day at the lake...

 

the beauty of fall

Eau Galle, Wisconsin - USA

There's something special about taking a walk in early fall and hearing the crunch of leaves under your feet, seeing the trees glowing with color and feeling the fresh, crisp air against your face, all while being lost in the moment.

among the palm trees

Zafra (Badajoz - Extremadura), Spain

Visit Zafra's Plaza Grande, you won't be disappointed!
 

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