Hello everyone and welcome to my blog :-)
As I promised you, I'll bring you a little more about the beautiful city of Beirã, Castelo Branco!
Before taking you to the new places, I'll talk a little about the city's culture, particularly embroidery.
My maternal grandmother was an embroiderer, so whenever I see these works on quilts or sheets I stop to appreciate them because they are always done with great pleasure.
Here we find linen quilts using silk thread and the theme of nature with trees and birds predominates, which many years ago were used in brides' trousseaus.
We can find similarities to the embroidery of Guadalupe and Toledo.
We continue our visit, this time to the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Graça or as the locals call it Convento da Graça.
Built in 1519, it was a small convent where Franciscan friars lived but was abandoned and occupied again (5 years later) by Augustinian friars. When this current building was built, the convent became the Convento da Graça church.
Right next door we have the Jardim do Paço Episcopal.
As we advance along the stone paths of the garden we feel that we are surrounded by an enchanted aura of the Baroque, a time where art and spirituality were in harmony.
Bishop D. João de Mendonça, a visionary at heart, gave life to this sanctuary, commissioning a work that transcends time. In granite, the imposing statues of the New Man, the Four Cardinal Virtues and the Signs of the Zodiac. At Escadaria dos Reis, we find dancing fountains and the water acts as a melody for our visit.
Here we also see a majestic representation of the apostles and Kings of Portugal.
Recently, the garden underwent a major restoration.
The tiles that adorn the garden walls tell the visual story of Castelo Branco. In shades of blue and white, these panels transport me to the drawings of Duarte de Armas in the 16th century and to the countenance of Bishop D. João de Mendonça.
There is a fee to visit this place, but it is worth it (€6 for two adults), children are free.
Right in front of the Garden we have the Castelo Branco City Park.
This was opened in 1934 and has a large green space filled with trees, flower beds, fountains and waterfalls.
This place was once an agricultural space for the palace. Nowadays it is very much aimed at children, with large spaces and a playground. In summer, the large water mirrors and fountains convey a feeling of freshness.
I still have some more places to show you about this city, but that’s for next time! I hope you enjoyed 😊
See you around.
Wishing you much peace and health
Those who pass by us do not go alone. They leave a bit of themselves, taking a piece of us."
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince.
