Cultural sightseeing in Portugal. What to visit - museums, temples, castles and palaces

» The Palacio da Bolsa was built on the ruins of a monastery. The construction began in 1842. The building was intended for trade.
»  It had been constructed for a long time, so the interior was finished only in 1910. In the palace, there are a lot of rooms that have a unique name and design.
»  The biggest room is called “Nations' Courtyard”. Its ceiling is a glass octagonal dome. On the dome, there are emblems of countries Portugal traded in the 19th century with.
»  There are also the Tribunal Room and the Assembly Room. The Golden and Arab Rooms decorated in the Moorish Revival style are the most impressive. Here, important political figures and noble guests are hosted.
»  It is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
»  In other rooms, there are paintings, sculptures, beautiful pieces of furniture, and dishes.

» The Castle of Sao Jorge is the fortress located on a high hill; it’s visible from almost anywhere in the city.
» The castle has long served as a royal residence until the 16th century, when the Ribeira Palace was built.
» The Castle of Sao Jorge at different times was used as a theater, a prison and an arsenal. The earthquake of 1755 turned the castle in ruins.
» In 1938, active reconstruction of the castle began, in which the medieval wall restored, and the park with monuments to the Great King Afonso I and Manuel I was laid out.
» Today the castle is open for visitors who could climb the tower and enjoy breathtaking view of the city. The castle has interesting multimedia exhibition about the history of Lisbon.

» The Clerigos Church was built in 1750 by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. The construction lasted for 18 years. Nasoni built a bell tower, the Torre dos Clerigos, behind the church in 1763.
»  During the construction, the architect joined the Brotherhood of the Clergymen. When he died in 1770, he was buried in the crypt of the church.
»  The church and the tower are designed in the baroque style and decorated with carved elements and statues of saints. The walls on the ground floor are 2 m thick.
»  The bell tower is 76 m high. It is seen from afar. The tower has long been a reference point for navigators.
»  You can get up the spiral staircase and reach the top of the tower. There is an observation platform.
»  In 1910, the Torre dos Clerigos was declared a national monument.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » The Crystal Palace in Porto was built in 1865 when the Worldwide Exhibition was held. It resembles the palace in Hyde Park which was also built for hosting the Worldwide Exhibition in 1851.
»  The Crystal Palace has long disappeared. At its site, a big multifunctional pavilion with a glass roof was built. Here, different events and festivals for adults and children are held.
»  The park around it impresses with alleys and flowerbeds, walking peacocks, and comfortable benches. There are a lot of sculptures in the ancient, classical, and modern avant-garde styles.
»  In the park, there is the Rose Garden, the Scented Garden, and the Romantic Museum. In the late 19th century, the fugitive King of Sardinia, Carl Albert lived here with his family. Nothing - old furniture, the collection of paintings, and tapestries - has changed since the king’s death.
»  On the ground floor, there is a port wine saloon and taste this famous Portuguese drink.

» The Estrela Basilica was built by order of Queen Mary I of Portugal by a vow after the birth of her son Jose, Prince of Brazil.
» Construction of the basilica was finished in 1790, two years after the death of Jose from smallpox at the age of 27 years.
» The Basilica was built in Late Baroque style, but there are elements of classic architectural solutions.
» Marble of three types: gray, pink and yellow was used for construction.
» There are two belfries near the temple adorned with statues of the saints and allegorical figures. Paintings by Italian artist Pompeo Batoni can be seen inside.
»  The main attraction of the basilica is scene of the Nativity consisting of more than 500 figures. The basilica is also the tomb of Queen Mary I.

Location on the map:   Interesting facts: » The House of Music was built by the project of a Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas in 2005. His project won a competition for modern projects of concert halls.
»  With its exterior, the building resembles an irregular-shaped crystal and is designed in the deconstructivist style.
»  The House of Music includes several audience halls. The first one seats 1 200 spectators, the second one - 350. There are also rooms for chamber concerts. On the upper floor, there is a big restaurant that seats 150 guests, a cafe, and an outdoor terrace.
»  In the House of Music, three orchestras work: National, Baroque and Remix.
»  The building has blank walls and fragments covered with glass panels. Blank walls hide technical rooms. Concert halls can be seen through big windows. You can hear and watch what happens in both halls even if you are outside. It is especially comfortable for tourists.
»  The House of Music is the symbol of Porto that is called the European Capital of Culture.

» Jeronimos is the monastery founded by Henry the Navigator in 1450. The building of the monastery is a grandiose monument to late-Manueline style of Portuguese architecture.
» The Jeronimos is protected by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site of mankind.
» The monastery is inextricably associated with the Age of Discovery. Vasco da Gama and his companions spent there the night in prayer before sailing towards India.
» King Manuel I and Joao III are buried in the monastery, as well as Vasco da Gama, Camoes and Fernando Pessoa.
» Since 1903 the western wing of the monastery has being housing the National Archaeological Museum.

» The Lisbon Cathedral is the cathedral of Lisbon patriarchy.
» It’s believed that earlier there has been a Roman temple on site of the present cathedral; in 4-5th centuries the former was turned into a Christian church. After a couple of centuries, there has been built a mosque that stood up to the 12th century; then the cathedral was built on that place.
» The Lisbon Cathedral is the building with three aisles, a transept and the main chapel. The main facade is framed by two towers; the monastery is to the east of the cathedral.
» Externally, the building of the cathedral resembles a fortress. Towers were observing sites in turbulent times, and their thick walls were completely devoid of windows in their lower parts, making them invulnerable to enemy attacks. Thanks to the thick walls, the cathedral withstood the destructive force of the 1755 earthquake.
» Nine Gothic chapels holding the remains of the great Portuguese, including King Alfonso IV and his wife Beatrice, are situated at the inner gallery.
» The treasury of the cathedral stores priestly vestments, silver products, sculptures, medieval manuscripts and sacred relics.