December 2007. This is the tenth article in the Portugal series.
Even if you’ve never visited Portugal, you’ve certainly held some of its most widely-used product in your hand more times than you could imagine. That product came from the gently rolling plains of Alentejo Province, Portugal’s “breadbasket”, a region covering a third of the country and fairly flat like North America’s plains, which stretches from the Algarve as far north as Lisbon and the Tagus River. There farmers grow grains and raise
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the Alentejo's location
The name comes from two Portuguese words meaning “on the other side of /...
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cork oak trees ...
… some recently stripped. They are everywhere throughout the...
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alongside a highway
When I first visited Portugal in 1986, these mule- or horse-drawn carts were...
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sheep, cattle and bulls
The plains are grazing country, with the most common livestock being sheep. I...
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the Roman temple
Built in the 2nd century A.D., it is believed to be dedicated to the goddess...
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another view ...
… showing 2,000 years of history. You are looking at the rear of the...
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Evora's massive cathedral
Located at the highest place in the city, it was first begun in the 12th...
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the cathedral's nave
As you can see, it is VERY high.
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the pulpit
The colours you see are from light coming through stained glass windows.
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Praça do Giraldo
Located in the heart of the historic part of the city, this is the...
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Santo Antão Church …
… (Saint Anton) on the Praça do Giraldo.
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the renaissance fountain ...
… (1571) in front of Santo Antão Church, with yours truly taking a...
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São Francisco nave
This church, beautiful enough on its own, is most famous for its bone chapel,...
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bone chapel entrance
Built in the 16th century, this is the largest and most impressive of...
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a crucifix on the wall
This sculpture is hung just to the right of the skeleton mentioned...
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a close-up …
… of one of the pillars. The skulls show how small men were a few...
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Pousada dos Loios
This is the entrance to this historic former monastery, founded in...
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the shady courtyard
As you can see, it is surrounded by the former cloisters, which have now been...
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inside the cloisters
The pousada features a very elegant dining room and this courtyard-side area....
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mixture of styles
This archway between the former cloisters and the main dining room shows both...
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an upstairs hallway
The chesterfield sets (sofas, couches to non-Canucks) are modern, as are the...
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monk's headboard ...
… in one of the monks’ cells, which serve as bedrooms. It...
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matching massive armoire
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modern sculpture ...
… in a little park in front of the Pousada’s entrance.
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Almourol castle
It’s an enormous construction, larger than a football field,...
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article published 12/14/2007
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Western Europe
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