San Francisco?
San Francisco?
Lisbon?
We are now in front of the Belem tower, built in 1515-1521 to protect the seaward entrance of the city.
Built in 1515 as a fortress to guard the entrance to Lisbon's harbor, the Belem Tower was the starting point for many of the voyages of discovery, and for the sailors it was the last sight of their homeland.
It is a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery, often serving as a symbol of the country, and UNESCO has listed it as a World Heritage monument.
Built in the Manueline style, it incorporates many stonework motifs ofthe Discoveries, sculptures depicting historical figures such as St. Vincent and an exotic rhinoceros that inspired Drer's drawing of the beast.
The architect, Francisco de Arruda, had previously worked on Portuguese fortifications in Morocco, so there are also Moorish-style watchtowers and other Moorish influences. Facing the river are arcaded windows, delicate Venetian-style loggias, and a statue of Our Lady of Safe Homecoming, a symbol of protection for sailors on their voyages.
UNESCO says...
Belem Tower was declared a World Heritage monument because: "It is a reminder of the great maritime discoveries that laid the foundations of the modern world."
Where: Avenida da India, Belem.
How: Tram 15
When: 10AM-5PM (Oct.-April), 10AM-6:30PM (May-Sept.), Closed Mondays
In 1580, when Lisbon was invaded by Spanish troops in the course of a struggle for the Portuguese throne, the Tower fought and surrendered to the Duke of Alba. In the following centuries the Tower was mainly used as a prison (with the underground cellars regularly flooding) and as a custom house. Indeed, given its height and lack of dissimulation in the landscape, some historians believe the Tower was mostly intended to serve as a customs outpost.
That's it ! but who gets the green and the next go ??
It was also where the royal tax collectors recorded spices etc that came into the city from the far east !!
on you go JJ
Up to you Happy.........
Jack gave you the clue so go for it Jack !!![]()
Oops ,sorry about size.
Yup I'm afraid that needs an enlargement, mate.
No sooner said. Thanks.![]()
I have to go soon ,want clue?
A postman built it, on his own when he had time off work.
Took him ages.
Ferdinand Cheval (1836 – 19 August, 1924), was a French postman who spent 33 years of his life building Le Palais Idéal (the "Ideal Palace") which is regarded as an extraordinary example of naïve art architecture.
Ferdinand Cheval lived in Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, in the Drôme département of France. He had left school at the age of 13 to become a baker's apprentice but eventually became a postman.
Cheval began the building in April 1879. He claimed that he had tripped on a stone and was inspired by its shape. He returned to the same spot the next day and started collecting stones.
For the next 33 years, during his daily mail route, Cheval carried stones from his delivery rounds and at home used them to build his Palais idéal, the Ideal Palace. First he carried the stones in his pockets, then a basket and eventually a wheelbarrow. He often worked at night, by the light of an oil lamp.
Cheval spent the first two decades building the outer walls. The Palace is a mix of different styles with inspirations from the Bible to Hindu mythology. Cheval bound the stones together with lime, mortar and cement.
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