Granada Oscar Wagenmans 2024-05-24 | Granada, Nicaragua, 2015.Nicaragua's oldest town is also its most beguiling. Bopping along cobblestone roads from church to church in the city center.
Masaya Oscar Wagenmans 2024-05-17 | Masaya, Nicaragua, 2014.Masaya is known as "The Cradle of Nicaraguan Folklore" and is the very heart of Nicaraguan handicrafts.The historical city center has open plazas and two large 16th-century baroque architecture churches: the Assumption's Parish Church, and St. Gerome's Church. But there are other colonial gems like St. John's, St. John Bosco's, and St. Michael's.Volcán Masaya National Park is a popular tourist site. It has a small museum and tourist information.
Kafue National Park Oscar Wagenmans 2024-05-10 | Kafue NP, Zambia, 2014.Meet the elephants and other wildlife of Kafue National Park in Zambia.
Livingstone Oscar Wagenmans 2024-05-03 | Livingstone, Zambia, 2014.Livingstone, on the border with Zimbabwe, is a relaxed and friendly town, set just under 11km from Victoria Falls, a fantastic base for visiting the Zambian side of the natural world wonder.
Victoria Falls Oscar Wagenmans 2024-04-26 | Victoria Falls, Zambia, 2014.Victoria Falls (its original, pre-colonial name is Mosi-oa-Tunya – the ‘smoke that thunders’) is one of Africa’s original blockbusters. And although Zimbabwe and Zambia share it, Victoria Falls is a place all of its own.
Hainan Oscar Wagenmans 2024-04-19 | Hainan, China, 2014.From Haikou to Sanya on China’s largest tropical island, Hainan. With stops in Lingshui, Xincun and Wuzhishan.
Campbellton Bluegrass Festival Oscar Wagenmans 2024-04-12 | Campbellton Bluegrass Festival, Canada, 2013.With the performances of The Silver Fox Duo & The Bluegrass Diamonds (at 1.58).
The Gift 2023 Oscar Wagenmans 2024-04-05 | New Years Eve celebration on the beach in Albufeira, Portugal with Portugese rockband THE GIFT.
Milreu & Estoi Oscar Wagenmans 2024-03-29 | Milreu & Estoi, Portugal, 2018.Estoi is a former civil parish in the municipality of Faro, in the Algarve, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Conceição e Estoi. The parish, which includes an area of approximately 46.55 square kilometres (17.97 sq mi), had a population of 3,538 at the 2001 census. The name of the parish, which was formerly spelled “Estói”, was changed in 2004.Just west of this small town, in the vicinity of Estoi, is a ruined Roman villa of Milreu which provides a rare opportunity to see how Romans lived in the 1st-century-AD to the 4th-century-AD . The ruins reveal the characteristic form of a peristyle villa, with a gallery of columns around a courtyard. The excavations brought to light an extensive Roman villa with adjacent buildings. The villa ruins of Milreu show that area was already populated in Roman times.
Setúbal Oscar Wagenmans 2024-03-22 | Setúbal, Portugal, 2018.Setúbal is a city and a municipality in Portugal.In the times of Al-Andalus the city was known as Sheṭūbar.In the 19th century, the port was called Saint Ubes in English, and Saint-Yves in French.The municipal holiday is 15 September, which marks the date in the year 1860 on which King Pedro V of Portugal officially recognised Setúbal as a city.Setúbal was the most important center of Portugal’s fishing industry, particularly sardines. None of the many factories then created are operating today. However, the existing maritime ports, either traditional, commercial and the new marines, keep the city links to the ocean and water well alive and vibrant.The main historical monument of the city of Setúbal is the Monastery of Jesus, with a 15th- and 16th-century church that represents one of the first buildings in the Portuguese late Gothic style known as Manueline.Also of interest are the São Julião Church, also with Manueline portals. The Castelo de São Filipe, is a 16th- and 17th-century fortress on the north bank of the Sado river, overseeing the city. The fortress was converted into a luxury hotel (pousada).
Santarém Oscar Wagenmans 2024-03-15 | Santarém, Portugal, 2018.Santarém is a city and municipality located in the district of Santarém in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 61,752,in an area of 552.54 km². The population of the city proper was 29,929 in 2012.
Aveiro Oscar Wagenmans 2024-03-08 | Aveiro, Portugal, 2018.Aveiro is a city and a municipality in Portugal. In 2011, the population was 78,450, in an area of 197.58 square kilometres (76.29 sq mi): it is the second most populous city in the Centro Region of Portugal (after Coimbra). Along with the neighbouring city of Ílhavo, Aveiro is part of an urban agglomeration that includes 120,000 inhabitants, making it one of the most important populated regions by density in the Centro Region, and primary centre of the Intermunicipal Community of Aveiro and Baixo Vouga.
Caldas da Reinha Oscar Wagenmans 2024-03-01 | Caldas da Reinha, Portugal, 2018.Caldas da Rainha is a medium-sized city in western central Portugal in the historical province of Estremadura and the district of Leiria. The city serves as the seat of the larger municipality of the same name and of the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Oeste (OesteCIM, Intermunicipal Community of the West). At the 2011 census, the municipality had a population of 51,729 in an area of 255.69 square kilometres (98.72 sq mi), with 27,378 residing in the city. Although the city itself lies about 10.5 kilometres (6.5 mi) inland, three of the municipality’s civil parishes lie on the Atlantic Ocean. Caldas da Rainha is best known for its sulphurous hot springs and ceramic pottery.The settlement was founded in the 15th century by Queen Leonor (Rainha Dona Leonor), who established a hospital and a church at the site of some therapeutic hot springs. The Hospital Termal Rainha D. Leonor (Queen Leonor Spring Water Hospital, or Thermal Hospital) is the oldest purpose-built institution of its kind in the world, with five centuries of history. The city’s name, often shortened to simply “Caldas”, can be translated as “Queen’s Hot Springs”, “Queen’s Spa”, or “Queen’s Baths”.In 1901 and 1902, Caldas da Rainha welcomed 350 Boer men, women, and children who sought refuge from the ravages of the Second Boer War in their South African homeland. Initially housed in the thermal hospital, the refugees were transferred to the park pavilions at the onset of the bathing season. Some rented rooms in town, marveling at the low rates.During World War I, in which Portugal joined the Allies, Caldas had one of three internment camps in the country. In 1916, most Germans in Portugal were deported, but men aged 15–45 were imprisoned to prevent their joining the German military. Originally, all of the approximately 700 prisoners were shipped to Angra do Heroísmo, on Terceira Island in the Azores, where they were held at the Fortress of São João Baptista. In 1918, to reduce overcrowding at the fortress, 168 internees were moved to Caldas, where they stayed in military barracks located at the Parque D. Carlos I (Pavilhões do Parque). The prisoners were released the following year, after the end of the war.On 26 April 1919, President João do Canto e Castro granted the town the title of Dame of the Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valour, Loyalty and Merit (Ordem Militar da Torre e Espada do Valor, Lealdade e Mérito). Unlike other places similarly honoured, Caldas did not add the honour’s collar to its coat of arms. The town was elevated to the status of city (cidade) in August 1927.During World War II, in which Portugal remained neutral, hundreds of Jewish refugees came to Caldas da Rainha to escape Nazism. Caldas also served as home to British and American airmen who landed or crashed in Portugal or off its coast. In January 1943, 230 Britons resident in Axis power Italy were evacuated to Caldas, where they were expected to stay until the end of the war. Most of these evacuees were over 65 years of age and had resided in Italy for a long time.In a prelude to the Carnation Revolution, in the early morning of 16 March 1974, the Fifth Infantry Regiment (Regimento de Infantaria 5), based in Caldas da Rainha in what is now the School of Army Sergeants (Escola de Sargentos do Exército), attempted to stage a coup d’état against the country’s authoritarian Estado Novo regime. Thirty officers and about 300 sergeants and enlisted men from the regiment left their quarters at 4:00 a.m., heading for Lisbon, where they planned to occupy the airport. On approaching the capital, the Caldas regiment found themselves alone, realizing that the other units supposed to participate in the coup had not joined the upheaval. The regiment turned back and reached their Caldas quarters at around 10:00 a.m., locking themselves in and awaiting a siege. The compound was surrounded by various forces, which penetrated the base at about 5:00 p.m. The revolters were arrested and sent to various military prisons, where they were held until the Carnation Revolution on 25 April 1974, 40 days later.
Walk along the Tagus - Lisboa Oscar Wagenmans 2024-02-23 | Lisboa, Portugal, 2018.Walk along the Tagus river in Lisbon with images of the Ponte 25 abril, the Museum MAAT and the Casa dos Bicos / Fundação José Saramago.
Vila do Bispo Oscar Wagenmans 2024-02-16 | Vila do Bispo, Portugal, 2014.Vila do Bispo is a municipality in the Portuguese Algarve.
Sagres Oscar Wagenmans 2024-02-09 | Sagres, Portugal, 2014.Sagres is a civil parish in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in the southern Algarve of Portugal. It is historically connected to the early Portuguese Age of Discovery. Sagres is near the western end of the world’s longest continuous direct driving route (8,726 miles or 14,043 km), ending near Khasan, Russia.The name Sagres, follows from Sagrado (holy) owing to the important local religious practices and rituals that occurred during the pre-history of the nation. From here some of the Mediterranean peoples (including the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans), venerated their divinities and which some believed, owing to the absence of a human settlement, was the gathering place for their gods. Christinas (Mozarabs) that lived in this zone, during the Muslim occupation, erected the Church of Corvo, where the mortal remains of the saint Vincent were deposited in the 8th century. The presence of martyr’s remains lead the Portuguese to refer to the site and the peninsula as the Cape of Saint Vincent.The area has been intrinsically linked to the nautical school first developed by Prince Henry the Navigator, which was installed in the 15th century. Although born in the provincial city of Porto (1394), he would be connected with his life in the parish, until his death in 1460, being known as the Infante of Sagres. Although there existed a medieval settlement in this area (Terçanabal), all the land was donated on 27 October 1443 to Infante Henry. The prince was associated with the Military Order of Christ, Duke of Viseu, Master of Covilhã and a man preoccupied with his signeurial holdings and defense of his faith. Henry obtained his wealth from the lands he held and the fisheries in the Algarve, and therefore preoccupied himself with needs of his workers, both materially and spiritually, and therefore invested in the founding of a village (later known as the Vila do Infante) to assist the population. The fortified town was situated on the Ponta de Sagres, a strategic point dominated the coves of Mareta and Beliche. Henry’s controlled his material interests from his villa, located on the clifftops, and when he died on 13 November 1460, the Portuguese navigators and other services, had already reached Sierra Leone.Sagres was created in 1519, through the division of the municipality of Vila do Bispo.King Sebastian was known to have spent time in the parish, listening to music along the cliffs and the sea. A chronicle of the 16th century, referred to the young Kings stay at the Convent of São Vicente do Cabo, and later, locals recounted that King was enchanted by the landscape of Sagres.[5]In May 1587, Francis Drake (one of more notable adventurers and military officers in the Court of Elizabeth) disembarked 800 men who assaulted the fortress of Sagres. After two hours of intense combat, fortifications adjacent to the fortress were destroyed and its artillery was pillaged.Until 1834, Sagres was an independent municipality, consisting of little more than 413 inhabitants.
Tavira Oscar Wagenmans 2024-02-02 | Tavira, Portugal, 2014.Tavira is a Portuguese town and municipality, capital of the Costa do Acantilado, situated in the east of the Algarve on the south coast of Portugal.Tavira’s origins date back to the late Bronze Age (1.000-800 BC). In the 8th century BC it became one of the first Phoenician settlements in the Iberian West.Under Roman rule, Tavira was a secondary passing place on the important road between Balsa and Baesuris (today Castro Marim).The Moorish occupation of Tavira between the 8th and 13th centuries left its mark on the agriculture, architecture and culture of the area. That influence can still be seen in Tavira today with its whitewashed buildings, Moorish style doors and rooftops. Tavira Castle, two mosques and palaces were built by the Moors. The impressive seven arched “Roman bridge” is now not considered to be Roman after a recent archaeological survey, but originates from a 12th Century Moorish bridge. This was a good time economically for Tavira, which established itself as an important port for sailors and fishermen. The area stayed rural until the 11th century when Moorish Tavira (from the Arabic Tabira, “the hidden”) started to grow rapidly, becoming one of the important (and independent) towns of the Algarve, then the South-Western extreme of Gharb al-Andalus (the West of Islamic Iberian territories).In 1242 Dom Paio Peres Correia took Tavira back from the Moors in a bloody conflict of retaliation after seven of his principal Knights were killed during a period of truce, the population of the town was decimated during this battle. Christians were now back in control of Tavira and though most Muslims left the town some remained in a Moorish quarter known as “Mouraria”.Like most of the Algarve its buildings were virtually all destroyed by the earthquake of 1755. This earthquake is thought to have reached 8.5–9.0 on the moment magnitude scale and caused extensive damage throughout the Algarve due to high intensity shaking (XI (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale) and tsunamis. The earthquake is referred to as the Lisbon earthquake due to its terrible effects on the capital city, although the epicentre was some 200 km (124 mi) west-southwest of Cape St. Vincent in the Algarve.The city has since been rebuilt with many fine 18th-century buildings along with its 37 churches. A ‘Roman’ (actually Moorish) bridge links the two parts of the town across the River Gilão. The church of Santa Maria do Castelo, built on the site of a Moorish mosque, holds the tombs of Dom Paio Peres Correia and his knights. The church dates from the 13th century and the clock tower has been remodeled from the original Muslim minaret. A bust of Dom Paio Perres Correia who died in 1275 can be seen on the corner of the town hall. Its original economic reliance on the fishing industry has now passed due to changed migration patterns of Tuna and further silting up of the river Gilão.
LX Lisboa Oscar Wagenmans 2024-01-26 | LX Lisboa, Portugal, 2014.LX Factory, an abandoned industrial site (also near the docks, in the Alcântara area under the 25 de Abril bridge), it has been turned into a trendy creative and cultural hub.
Aldeia das Dez Oscar Wagenmans 2024-01-19 | Aldeia das Dez, Portugal, 2012.Aldeia das Dez is a Portuguese parish of the municipality of Oliveira do Hospital, with 18.12 km ² of area and 531 inhabitants (2011). Its population density is of 29,3 hab / km ².Aldeia das Dez is also known as Village of Flowers, in the tradition of Villagers decorating their streets with beautiful and colorful flowers.Aldeia das Dez is also rich in oral heritage, illustrated by the Legend of the Village of Ten.Legend of the Village of the TenThe legend of Aldeia das Dez originates in the Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula and is linked to the present name of the village. According to legend, during the Christian Reconquest ten women will have found a treasure in a cave situated on the slope of Monte do Colcurinho. According to the oral tradition and some documents that survived, this treasure had a value that surpasses the material. These women will have become aware of its importance and, in a pact that persists to this day, will have separated the pieces that composed it and passed it from generation to generation until today to unlock the secret they contain. As for the treasure, it is believed that Antonini coins are part of it with encrypted inscriptions, one of which will be stuck in the frame of a picture that tells this legend. From this painting little more is known, besides having resurfaced in the middle of the XX century in an antiquarian of Oliveira of the Hospital, to again disappear. It will have been painted by one of the descendants of the ten women and it is believed that depicting the legend may offer a key to his secret.
Belmonte Oscar Wagenmans 2024-01-12 | Belmonte, Portugal, 2012.Belmonte is a municipality in the district of Castelo Branco, Portugal. The population in 2011 was 6,859, in an area of 118.76 km².Belmonte is the birthplace of Pedro Álvares Cabral, the navigator who discovered the land of Vera Cruz, now known as Brazil. Located in the Church of Santa Maria is the iconic statue of Nossa Senhora da Esperança (Our Lady of Hope), which Cabral took with him in his voyage. Until 1834, the statue was held by the Monastery of Nossa Senhora da Esperança. The former religious facility has been adapted for use as a modern boutique hotel.The singer Zeca Afonso lived in Belmonte for part of his childhood, between 1938 and 1940. He lived with his uncle, the mayor of the town, whilst his parents were living in Mozambique.Belmonte is home to the last remaining community of marranos in Portugal (known as the Belmonte Jews). They officially returned to Judaism in the 1970s and opened a synagogue in 1996.The Jewish Museum of Belmonte (Portuguese: Museu Judaico de Belmonte) opened on 17 April 2005.
Serpa Oscar Wagenmans 2024-01-05 | Serpa, Portugal, 2009.Serpa is a city and a Concelho (municipality) in the central Portuguese region Alentejo. The Guadiana River flows close to the town of Serpa.Serpa has its origins in early settlement that preceded the Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula. The neighbouring town of Beja (known as Pax Julia by the Romans) became the capital of southern Lusitanian (Pacensis). Serpa grew through the settlement of Roman colonists, with proof coming from various archaeological remains within the Roman villa.Moorish settlement followed this period, and remained until the Reconquista (the Christian re-conquest of Iberia).As a result of Serpa's proximity to the Spanish border, the town has always been a defensive stronghold. In the 13th century, owing to its location on the left bank of the Guadiana, it was occupied by forces loyal to Castile.On 1281, King D. Alfonso X of Castile delimited the municipality, attributing a Foral (charter) to the town, from Seville, in order to encourage settlement and expansion.Following the Reconquista, in 1295, Serpa received a new foral from Portuguese King D. Dinis. The local keep that dominated Serpa was partly damaged as a result of the last Spanish invasion. At that time, the king ordered the re-construction of the castle, as well as the erection of a wall fortification.A new foral was issued in 1513, by King D. Manuel I, who was the former-Master of Serpa.During the 17th century, the walls and system of bastions were adapted to serve as a defensive line by Nicolau de Langres (1665).On 30 January 1954, the walls of Serpa were classified as a Monumento Nacional (National Monument).Following the Carnation Revolution (in 1974), the Portuguese Communist Party gained strong support in the area, where it continues to be a popular.On 26 August 2003, the town of Serpa was elevated to status of city.
Alvito Oscar Wagenmans 2023-12-29 | Alvito, Portugal, 2009.Alvito is a town and a municipality in Beja District in Portugal.The Alvito region has been inhabited since the Neolithic, and during the period of Roman domination several villae were established nearby, later occupied by Visigoths and Moors. During the Reconquista, Alvito was conquered by the Portuguese in 1234, being later (1251) donated by King Afonso III to Estêvão Anes, chancellor of the kingdom, who promoted the settlement of the area.The village gained a foral (letter of feudal rights) in 1280, confirmed by King Dinis I in 1283. In 1296 an annual fair was established, attesting the rapid development of the region. In 1387, King John I donated Alvito to knight Diogo Lobo in exchange for his services in the decisive Battle of Aljubarrota (1385), and in 1475 the title of Baron was granted to the rulers of Alvito.The 15th and 16th centuries were a time of strong economic and populational development of Alvito, which reached 1700 inhabitants in 1527. The Castle of Alvito was rebuilt between 1494 and 1504, and its architecture and decoration show an interesting mix of Manueline (Portuguese late Gothic) and Mudéjar (Arab-influenced) styles, typical of the Alentejo region. Also the main church (matriz) of Alvito, in a mix of Manueline and early Renaissance styles, dates from the early 16th century.After the 18th century, Alvito faced an economic stagnation that continued until the 20th century, and it now bets on its touristic potential. In 1993, the Castle of Alvito was turned into a luxury hotel of the Pousadas de Portugal brand.
Palácio da Pena Oscar Wagenmans 2023-12-22 | Palácio da Pena, Sintra, 2009.The Palácio da Pena is a Romanticist castle in São Pedro de Penaferrim. The castle stands on the top of a hill in the Sintra Mountains above the town of Sintra. It is a national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th-century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other government officials.The Pena Palace has a profusion of styles much in accordance with the exotic taste of the Romanticism. The intentional mixture of eclectic styles includes the Neo-Gothic, Neo-Manueline, Neo-Islamic and Neo-Renaissance. References to other prominent Portuguese buildings, such as the Belém Tower, are also present.
A virgin in Lisbon Oscar Wagenmans 2023-12-15 | Lisbon, Portugal, 2009.A virgin goes around in Lisbon, carried by men in dresses and a fado is sung in Alfama.
Castelo de Vide Oscar Wagenmans 2023-12-01 | Castelo de Vide, Portugal, 2005.Castelo de Vide is a municipality in Portugal, with a population of 3,407 inhabitants in 2011.It is unclear when the first settlers occupied the territory of Castelo de Vide, although archaeologists suggest that the decision to occupy the land, came from the morphology of the soil and from a territorial strategy to occupy and conquered lands. The establishment of a fortification helped to fix a new population to the territory and, at the same, defend the nascent colony.Writing in 1299, Rui de Pina stated that Castelo de Vide remained a weak stronghold, as he wrote “lugar etã mais chão q forte” (the locality is more place then strong).Afonso Sanches, son of king Afonso III, began to rebuild the walls, and his brother, king Denis continued the task, but it was ultimately completed during the reign of Afonso IV, sometime in the 14th century. These changes improved the defensive conditions of the stronghold, including moving a well into the interior and a new line of walls to protect the citadel and the houses outside the original walls. A tower keep was, also, constructed that was even with the southern walls, in order to better defend the southern passage.All these improvements came to ahead with the conflicts with Castille, when siege machine were used. A strategic border fortress, it was acquired in 1276 when Castelo de Vide became its own municipality. Until this time, the territory’s settlements were part of Marvão.Slowly, throughout the 14th century, the settlement expanded outside the castle walls. The southern flanks, with good southerly exposure and gentle slope, allowed easy settlement, while the northern and western exposures were expanded later, due to wind and steep cliff faces. The growth of the settlement occurred along the main road leading to the castle, and followed the expansion of religious buildings outside the walls.This road bisected two sides of the hill and one was occupied by a Jewish Quarter, inhabited by Jews expelled from Castile and Aragon.Many of the perceptions of the town came from the 16th century drawings of Duarte d’Armas, who drew representations of the town. At that time, the settlement was dedicated to agriculture (cultivating vineyard, cotton, olives, fruits and cereals) and raising cattle, while watermills were constructed to mill along the ravines in Vide and Nisa. At the end of the 15th century, and beginning of the 16th century, the wool industry obtained an importance in the region, at the end of King John III reign. This importance resulted in its inhabitants began to be referred to as the Cardadores; there were 885 inhabitants in 1527, but rose to 1400 by 1572 and 1600 by 1603. This growth was based in the growth in agricultural production, the textile industry and commerce with Spain.The new foral (charter), issued by King Manuel I in 1512, established new laws for public spaces and organized the towns specific limits.
Marvão Oscar Wagenmans 2023-11-24 | Marvão, Portugal, 2005.Marvão is a municipality in Portalegre District in Portugal.Perched on a granite crag of the Serra de São Mamede, Marvão’s name is derived from an 8th-century Muladi duke, named Ibn Marwan. Ibn Marwan, who constructed the Castle of Marvão – likely on the site of an earlier Roman watchtower – as a power base when establishing an independent statelet (“emirate”, duchy) – covering much of modern-day Portugal – during the Emirate of Cordoba (884-931 CE). The castle and walled village were further fortified through the centuries, notably under Sancho II of Portugal (13th century) and Denis of Portugal.The village has generated significant tourist interest in recent years. It was included in the #1 New York Times bestselling book, ‘1000 Places to see Before you Die’.
Elvas Oscar Wagenmans 2023-11-17 | Elvas, Portugal, 2005.Elvas is a Portuguese municipality, former episcopal city and frontier fortress of easternmost central Portugal, located in the district of Portalegre in Alentejo.Elvas is among the finest examples of intensive usage of the trace italienne (star fort) in military architecture, and has been a World Heritage Site since 30 June 2012. The inscribed site name is Garrison Border Town of Elvas and its Fortifications.It was wrested from the Moors by Afonso I of Portugal in 1166 but was temporarily recaptured before its final occupation by the Portuguese in 1226. In 1570 it became an episcopal see, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Elvas, until 1818. The late Gothic Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral, which has many traces of Moorish influence in its architecture, dates from the reign of Manuel I of Portugal (1495–1521).It is defended by seven bastions and the two forts of Santa Luzia and the Nossa Senhora da Graça Fort. From 1642 until modern times it was the chief frontier fortress south of the Tagus, which withstood sieges by the Spanish in 1659, 1711 and 1801. Elvas was the site of the Battle of the Lines of Elvas in 1659, during which the garrison and citizens of the city assisted in the rout of a Spanish Army. The Napoleonic French under Marshal Junot took it in March 1808 during the Peninsular War, but evacuated it in August after the conclusion of the Convention of Sintra. The fortress of Campo Maior 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) to the northeast is known for its Napoleonic era siege by the French and relief by the British under Marshal Beresford in 1811, an exploit commemorated in a ballad by Sir Walter Scott.The Amoreira Aqueduct is a 16th-century aqueduct (begun in 1537) that spans the Portuguese municipality of Elvas, bringing water into the fortified seat.
Monsaraz Oscar Wagenmans 2023-11-10 | Monsaraz, Portugal, 2005.Monsaraz is a civil parish (freguesia) of the municipality of the Reguengos de Monsaraz, on the right margin of the Guadiana River in Portuguese Alentejo region, near its border with Spain. The population in 2011 was 782 in an area of 88.29 km².Due to its geographic position, the hilltop of Monsaraz always occupied an important place in the history of the municipality, having been occupied by different peoples since the pre-historical record. It is one of the oldest Portuguese settlements of the southern Portugal, occupied since pre-history, whose examples of permanent habitation include hundreds of megalithic monuments. These include the neolithic remains of: Megalithic Monuments of Herdade de Xerez, Olival da Pega Dolmen (Anta), Bulhoa Menhir, Rocha dos Namorados Menhir and Outeiro Menhir. The hill, on which the main settlement is located, was a pre-historic fortification, or castro, that was the basis of pre-Roman occupation and funerary temples, carved from the local rock.Monsaraz was reorganized during the Roman occupation, but later successively occupied by the Visigoths, Arabs, Mozarabs, Jews, and, after the Reconquista, Christians loyal to Afonso Henriques. In the 8th century, Monsaraz fell under the dominion of Arab forces who occupied the Iberian Peninsula, becoming known as Saris or Sharish, and following the control of the Taifa of Badajoz (one of the more prominent Arab centres at the time). The name Monsaraz originates from the word Xarez or Xerez, the Iberian transliteration of the Arabic Saris or Sharish, for the Gum Rockrose (Cistus ladanifer L.), a plant that still today prospers in poor, dry, acidic slate-based soil that surrounds Monsaraz. The Iberian words Xarez/Xerez latter evolved to the Portuguese Xaraz and to the Spanish (Castilian) Jerez (the Spanish name for the sherry wine). The settlement that became Monsaraz, originated from the Monte Xaraz, a fortified hill surrounded by Gum Rockroses. It is natural position, the highest hill in the area and proximity to the deep Guadiana valley, made it a location of strategic importance.In 1167, the Castle and medina was taken by Geraldo Sem Pavor, in an expedition that came from Évora (which had just been retaken, about the same time). After, Afonso Henriques’ defeat in Badajoz, Monsaraz was once again taken by Muslim forces. In 1232, supported by the Knights Templar, King Sancho II definitively retook the citadel and town, placing it under the control of the Templars, and obligating them to establish a garrison that would protect the border. The Christian repopulation of Monsaraz ended around the reign of Afonso III, when it was assigned an alcalde, the knight Martim Anes, and first letter of foral.In 1263 it was already an important fortress, being the head of a municipality, with large privileges. The local economy was fundamentally based on agriculture and livestock, existing some small artesnal industries producing terra cotta earthenware and hammered copper.After the Portuguese Interregnum (1383-1385), the town of Monsaraz was integrated into the dominions of the House of Braganza under Nuno Álvares Pereira.By 1412, it is inherited by Fernando, his son, becoming one of the more precious profit centres in the Ducal estates.In 1512, King Manuel of Portugal issued a foral (charter) to the Vila de Monsaraz, reformulating the public and jurisdictional administration of the municipality.The demographic crises created by the plague forced the Duke of Bragança, in 1527 to carry out small land reforms in order to promote the settlement Monsaraz. The small plots were established in the area surrounding this village.Following the Portuguese Restoration War, in 1640, the castle received new tactical defenses, that included a new walled bastion, that allowed the city-fort to be integrated into the system of defences that connected Elvas, Juromenha, Olivença and Mourão.The condition of the walled medieval city, the growth of the farm estates of Reguengos, the richness of the artesnal production and vineyards, and more importantly, the loyalty towards the Miguelist forces during the Liberal Wars were all factors that contributed to the shifting of the municipal seat from Monsaraz to Vila Nova de Reguengos in 1838, a fact that became permanent after 1851.
Lisboa, Alfama & Feira de ladra Oscar Wagenmans 2023-11-03 | Lisbon, Portugal, 2004.Located close to the National Pantheon (Panteão Nacional / Church of Santa Engrácia) and the Igreja de São Vicente de Fora in the Alfama district of Lisbon, Feira da Ladra (Thieves Market) is a twice weekly flea market.It is held on Tuesday and Saturday in Campo de Santa Clara and its surrounding streets. From the Igreja de São Vicente de Fora the first stalls can be seen after passing through the Arco de São Vicente.The market is old and was first mentioned in the 17th century though it most likely pre-dates this.
Guimarães Oscar Wagenmans 2023-10-27 | Guimarães, Portugal, 2003.Guimarães is a city and municipality located in northern Portugal, in the district of Braga. Its historic town centre is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001, in recognition for being an “exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town” in Europe.The city was settled in the 9th century, at which time it was called Vimaranes. This denomination might have had its origin in the warrior Vímara Peres, who chose this area as the main government seat for the County of Portugal which he conquered for the Kingdom of Galicia.Guimarães has a significant historical importance due to the role it played in the foundation of Portugal. The city is often referred to as the “birthplace of the Portuguese nationality” or “the cradle city” (Cidade Berço in Portuguese) because it is widely believed that Portugal’s first King, Afonso Henriques, was born there, and also due to the fact that the Battle of São Mamede – which is considered the seminal event for the foundation of the Kingdom of Portugal – was fought in the vicinity of the city.For some decades, Guimarães was the capital of the County of Portugal, however, shortly after the Battle of São Mamede (1128), and due to the needs of the Reconquista, Coimbra became the kingdom’s capital.The inhabitants of Guimarães are often called “Vimaranenses” and “Conquistadores” (the Conquerors) in relation with the historical heritage of the conquest initiated in Guimarães.
Coimbra Oscar Wagenmans 2023-10-20 | Coimbra, Portugal, 2000.Coimbra is a city and a municipality in Portugal. The fourth-largest urban centre in Portugal (after Lisbon, Porto and Braga).Among the many archaeological structures dating back to the Roman era, when Coimbra was the settlement of Aeminium, are its well-preserved aqueduct and cryptoporticus. Similarly, buildings from the period when Coimbra was the capital of Portugal (from 1131 to 1255) still remain. During the late Middle Ages, with its decline as the political centre of the Kingdom of Portugal, Coimbra began to evolve into a major cultural centre. This was in large part helped by the establishment of the University of Coimbra in 1290, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world. Apart from attracting many European and international students, the university is visited by many tourists for its monuments and history. Its historical buildings were classified as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 2013: “Coimbra offers an outstanding example of an integrated university city with a specific urban typology as well as its own ceremonial and cultural traditions that have been kept alive through the ages.”
Monsanto Oscar Wagenmans 2023-10-13 | Monsanto, Portugal, 2000.Monsanto is a village in the civil parish of Monsanto e Idanha-a-Velha, in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, District of Castelo Branco, Portugal. In 2011, it covered an area of 131.76 km² and had 828 inhabitants (June 30, 2011). Monsanto would become popularly known as "the most Portuguese village of Portugal" due to a government-sponsored competition that awarded twelve historic villages the distinction of Most Portuguese Village of their own province in 1938.
Convento de Cristo Oscar Wagenmans 2023-10-06 | Tomar, Portugal, 2000.The town of Tomar was born inside the walls of the Convento de Cristo, constructed under the orders of Gualdim de Pais, the fourth grand master of the Knights Templar in the late 12th century.Tomar is one of Portugal’s historical jewels and more significantly was the last Templar town to be commissioned for construction. Tomar was especially important in the 15th century when it was a centre of Portuguese overseas expansion under Henry the Navigator, the Grand Master of the Order of Christ, successor organization to the Templars in Portugal.The convent and castle complex is a historic and cultural monument and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983.
Lisbon at the millennium Oscar Wagenmans 2023-09-29 | Lisbon, Portugal, 2000.Lisbon is the capital and the largest city of Portugal. About 3 million people live in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area.Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world, and one of the oldest in Western Europe, predating other modern European capitals such as London, Paris and Rome by centuries. Julius Caesar made it a municipium called Felicitas Julia, adding to the name Olissipo. Ruled by a series of Germanic tribes from the 5th century, it was captured by the Moors in the 8th century. In 1147, the Crusaders under Afonso Henriques reconquered the city and since then it has been a major political, economic and cultural centre of Portugal.
Quebec Oscar Wagenmans 2023-09-22 | Quebec, Canada, 2013.Old Quebec is a historic neighbourhood of Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Comprising the Upper Town and Lower Town, the area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Administratively, Old Quebec is part of the Vieux-Québec–Cap-Blanc–colline Parlementaire district in the borough of La Cité-Limoilou.
Ottawa Oscar Wagenmans 2023-09-15 | Ottawa, Canada, 2013.Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It stands on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of southern Ontario.Founded in 1826 as Bytown, and incorporated as Ottawa in 1855, the city has evolved into the political centre of Canada. Its original boundaries were expanded through numerous annexations and were ultimately replaced by a new city incorporation and amalgamation in 2001 which significantly increased its land area. The city name “Ottawa” was chosen in reference to the Ottawa River, the name of which is derived from the Algonquin Odawa, meaning “to trade”.Ottawa has the most educated population among Canadian cities and is home to a number of post-secondary, research, and cultural institutions, including the National Arts Centre, the National Gallery, and numerous national museums. Ottawa has the highest standard of living in the nation and low unemployment.
Peterborough Lift Lock Oscar Wagenmans 2023-09-08 | Peterborough, Canada, 2013.The Peterborough Lift Lock is a boat lift located on the Trent Canal in the city of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, and is Lock 21 on the Trent-Severn Waterway.For many years, the lock's dual lifts were the highest hydraulic boat lifts in the world, raising boats 65 ft (20 m). This was a considerable accomplishment in the first years of the 20th century, when conventional locks usually only had a 7 ft (2.1 m) rise.In the 1980s, a visitor centre was built beside the lock. It offers interactive simulations of going over the lift lock in a boat, and historical exhibits detailing the construction of the lift lock.The Peterborough Lift Lock was designated a National Historic Site in 1979, and was named an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1987.No external power is needed: the lift lock functions by gravity alone using the counterweight principle. The lift lock was designed by Richard Birdsall Rogers, a superintendent of the Trent Canal (part of the Trent-Severn Waterway). In 1896, he travelled to France, Belgium and England to see existing examples in operation.Part of the reason that the lift lock was built was political. At the time a federal election was taking place and in order to shore up local support the project was fast tracked. In 1896 construction was approved and contractors signed on prior to any real working drawings being ready. The government still fell, and Richard Rogers, who was concerned about his links to the former administration, only released portions of the working drawings bit by bit. It worked, allowing him to remain on the job as the main designer.The final project included many engineering firsts. It was the first lock to be built out of concrete, and at the time was the largest structure ever built in the world with unreinforced concrete.The lift lock officially opened to the public to a crowd of thousands on 9 July 1904, and remains in full use today.
Niagara Falls Oscar Wagenmans 2023-09-01 | Niagara Falls, Canada, 2013.Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, which straddles the international border of the two countries. It is also known as the Canadian Falls. The smaller American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls lie within the United States. Bridal Veil Falls is separated from Horseshoe Falls by Goat Island and from American Falls by Luna Island, with both islands situated in New York.Formed by the Niagara River, which drains Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, the combined falls have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America that has a vertical drop of more than 50 m (160 ft). During peak daytime tourist hours, more than 168,000 m3 (5.9 million cu ft) of water goes over the crest of the falls every minute. Horseshoe Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, as measured by flow rate. Niagara Falls is famed for its beauty and is a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Balancing recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 19th century.Niagara Falls is 27 km (17 mi) northwest of Buffalo, New York, and 69 km (43 mi) southeast of Toronto, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls was formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly formed Great Lakes carved a path over and through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean.
Montreal Oscar Wagenmans 2023-08-25 | Montreal, Canada, 2013.Montreal is the most populous municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec and the second-most populous municipality in Canada. Originally called Ville-Marie, or “City of Mary”, it is named after Mount Royal, the triple-peaked hill in the heart of the city. The city is centred on the Island of Montreal, which took its name from the same source as the city, and a few much smaller peripheral islands, the largest of which is Île Bizard. It has a distinct four-season continental climate with warm to hot summers and cold, snowy winters.Historically the commercial capital of Canada, Montreal was surpassed in population and in economic strength by Toronto in the 1970s. It remains an important centre of commerce, aerospace, transport, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, education, art, culture, tourism, food, fashion, gaming, film, and world affairs.Montreal has hosted multiple international conferences and events, including the 1967 International and Universal Exposition and the 1976 Summer Olympics. It is the only Canadian city to have held the Summer Olympics. In 2018, Montreal was ranked as an Alpha− world city. As of 2016 the city hosts the Canadian Grand Prix of Formula One, the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Just for Laughs festival.
Montevideo Oscar Wagenmans 2023-08-18 | Montevideo, Uruguay, 2013.Montevideo is the capital and largest city of Uruguay. The southernmost capital city in the Americas, Montevideo is situated on the southern coast of the country, on the northeastern bank of the Río de la Plata.The city was established in 1724 by a Spanish soldier, Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst the Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region. It was also under brief British rule in 1807. Montevideo is the seat of the administrative headquarters of Mercosur and ALADI, Latin America’s leading trade blocs, a position that entailed comparisons to the role of Brussels in Europe.Described as a “vibrant, eclectic place with a rich cultural life”, and “a thriving tech center and entrepreneurial culture”, Montevideo ranked eighth in Latin America on the 2013 MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index. In 2014, it was also regarded as the fifth most gay-friendly metropolis in the world, first in Latin America. It is the hub of commerce and higher education in Uruguay as well as its chief port. The city is also the financial and cultural hub of a larger metropolitan area, with a population of around 2 million.
Salto Oscar Wagenmans 2023-08-11 | Salto, Uruguay, 2013.Salto is the capital city of the Salto Department in northwestern Uruguay.
Iguazú Falls Oscar Wagenmans 2023-08-04 | Iguazú Falls, Argentina, 2013.Iguazú Falls are waterfalls of the Iguazu River on the border of the Argentine province of Misiones and the Brazilian state of Paraná. Together, they make up the largest waterfall system in the world. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu. The Iguazu River rises near the heart of the city of Curitiba. For most of its course, the river flows through Brazil; however, most of the falls are on the Argentine side. Below its confluence with the San Antonio River, the Iguazu River forms the border between Argentina and Brazil.The name Iguazú comes from the Guarani or Tupi words "y", meaning "water", and "ûasú "[, meaning "big". Legend has it that a deity planned to marry a beautiful woman named Naipí, who fled with her mortal lover Tarobá in a canoe. In a rage, the deity sliced the river, creating the waterfalls and condemning the lovers to an eternal fall. The first European to record the existence of the falls was the Spanish Conquistador Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca in 1541.
Purmamarca & San Antonio de los Cobres Oscar Wagenmans 2023-07-28 | Purmamarca & San Antonio de los Cobres, Argentina, 2012.Purmamarca's attraction include the aforementioned Cerro de los Siete Colores and the town handicraft market. It also serves as a starting point for treks such as the Paseo de los Colorados and Purmamarca River, and tours to Salinas Grandes, the Huachichocana archaeological site and the Laguna de Guayatayoc with its pink flamencos and wild geese.San Antonio de los Cobres is a small town of population 5,482 in northwestern Argentina.
Salta Oscar Wagenmans 2023-07-21 | Salta, Argentina, 2012/2013Salta is a city located in the Lerma Valley, at 1,152 metres (3780 feet) above sea level in the northwest part of Argentina. It is also the name for the capital city of Salta Province. Along with its metropolitan area, it has a population of 619,000 inhabitants, which makes it the second most populated city in the northwest of the country.Salta was founded on April 16, 1582 by the Spanish conquistador Hernando de Lerma, who intended the settlement to be an outpost between Lima, Peru and Buenos Aires. The origin of the name Salta is a matter of conjecture, with several theories being advanced to explain it.During the war of independence, the city became a commercial and military strategic point between Perú and the Argentine cities. Between 1816 and 1821, the city was led by local military leader General Martín Miguel de Güemes, who under the command of General José de San Martín, defended the city and surrounding area from Spanish forces coming from further north.Salta emerged from the War of Independence politically in disarray and financially bankrupt, a condition that lingered throughout much of the 19th century. However, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the arrival of Italian, Spanish and Arab immigrants, particularly Syrians and Lebanese, revived trade and agriculture all over the area while further enhancing the city’s multicultural flavor.
Cordoba & Alta Gracia Oscar Wagenmans 2023-07-14 | Cordoba & Alta Gracia, Argentina, 2012.The Jesuit Block and Estancias of Córdoba are a former Jesuit reduction built by missionaries in the province of Córdoba, Argentina, named a World Heritage Site in 2000.The Manzana Jesuítica contains the University of Córdoba, one of the oldest in South America, the Monserrat Secondary School, a church, and residence buildings. To maintain such a project, the Jesuits operated six Estancias (residences) around the province of Córdoba, named Caroya, Jesús María, Santa Catalina, Alta Gracia, Candelaria, and San Ignacio.The farm and the complex, started in 1615, had to be left by the Jesuits, following the 1767 decree by King Charles III of Spain that expelled them from the continent. They were then run by the Franciscans until 1853, when the Jesuits returned to The Americas. Nevertheless, the university and the high-school were nationalized a year later.Each Estancia has its own church and set of buildings, around which towns grew, such as Alta Gracia, the closest to the Block. The Jesuit Block and the Estancias can be visited by tourists; the Road of the Jesuit Estancias is approximately 250 kilometres (160 mi) in length.Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who would later become Pope Francis, lived there.
Buenos Aires Oscar Wagenmans 2023-07-07 | Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2012/2013.Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina. The city is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the South American continent’s southeastern coast. “Buenos Aires” can be translated as “fair winds” or “good airs”, but the former was the meaning intended by the founders in the 16th century, by the use of the original name “Real de Nuestra Señora Santa María del Buen Ayre”. The Greater Buenos Aires conurbation, which also includes several Buenos Aires Province districts, constitutes the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas, with a population of around 15.6 million.Buenos Aires is a top tourist destination, and is known for its preserved Eclectic European architecture and rich cultural life.Buenos Aires is a multicultural city, being home to multiple ethnic and religious groups. Several languages are spoken in the city in addition to Spanish, contributing to its culture and the dialect spoken in the city and in some other parts of the country. This is because in the last 151 years the city, and the country in general, has been a major recipient of millions of immigrants from all over the world, making it a melting pot where several ethnic groups live together and being considered one of the most diverse cities of the Americas.
Almodôvar Oscar Wagenmans 2023-06-30 | Almodôvar, Portugal, 2013.Almodôvar is a town and a municipality in the District of Beja, Portugal. The village of Almodôvar is signaled in medieval islamic cartography under the name “Al-mudura” meaning “thing in round” or “surrounded in round”. The settlement was rebuilt at the time of the muslim invasion of the Iberian Peninsula, with walls surrounding it and a castle inside. Remains of which have, however, disappeared.Almodôvar received its first Foral (Town Charter) on April 17, 1285 by order of King Dinis of Portugal, confirmed by a new Foral on June 1, 1512, by order of King Manuel I of Portugal.The Almodôvar area is situated in an area of transition between the Alentejo peneplain, in the northernmost part of the municipality, and the hills of the Serra do Caldeirão to the south of its territory.
Vila Nova de Milfontes Oscar Wagenmans 2023-06-23 | Vila Nova de Milfontes, Portugal, 2013.Vila Nova de Milfontes is a civil parish in the municipality of Odemira of the Portuguese Alentejo region.One of the older parishes in the municipality, it was founded in 1485 by King John II, the area was constituted to serve an economic and defensive role in the Alentejo, at the confluence of the Mira River, and benefitted from its strategic importance as a safe harbour. The first inhabitants were prisoners sentenced by minor crimes; 50 years after it was established the population of the parish was little more than ten families.The village was frequently attacked by pirates, and destroyed completely in 1590, resulting in the construction of fortress, around 1602: the Fort of São Clemente (Portuguese: Forte de São Clemente), which was constructed between 1599 and 1602 (during the reign of King Phillip II).
Odeceixe Oscar Wagenmans 2023-06-16 | Odeceixe, Portugal, 2013.Odeceixe is a village and civil parish in the northern part of the municipality of Aljezur, in the Portuguese Algarve, lying within the Nature Park of the Southwest Alentejo and Vincentine Coast. The village lies on the south bank of the Ribeira de Seixe, which here forms the border between the Algarve and Alentejo.The parish of Odeceixe is situated on the steeply inclined topography that divides the Algarve and Alentejo regions; the south bank of the Ribeira de Seixe which runs through this parish is the dividing line for this frontier.
