portugal
The Douro is one of the largest rivers in Portugal, and flows from Spain to near the city of Porto. It is the world’s oldest demarcated wine region, and a World Heritage Site. It was a change of landscape from our travels through the small medieval towns of Portugal. Douro Valley is a great place to relax and enjoy the vibrant green landscapes, a good glass of wine, and some local olive oil to boot.
Berlenga Grande Island is part of an archipelago, a short boat ride away from the seaside Portuguese town of Peniche. Although it is known for its fort, it is worth exploring other parts of the island itself - including a view to the lighthouse and the small beaches caved out along the coast.
Cape Carvoeiro sits at the westernmost point of Peniche, perched over the Atlantic Ocean. We visited this spectacular location on the way to Peniche, and then again on the way to the Berlenga Islands. The wind was suprisingly calm on that day, which provided an excellent opportunity to fly the drone over the area and get a bird’s eye view of the place.
Azenhas do Mar is a stunning seaside village north of Lisbon. It boasts two excellent seafood restaurants and two hotels, even though its population is of only about 400 inhabitants. It makes for a great overnight stay on the way from Lisbon and Sintra to the beaches further up along the coast. We spent only one night there, and made sure to stop by the lookout to watch the sunrise. It proved a worthwhile visit - we stayed for a while and watched as the colours of the sky changed dramatically over time.
Another spectacular spot from which to appreciate Lisbon is the lookout at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. During the Summer, this is an ideal place to watch the sunset, as it colours the sky bright pink and purple. But don’t be fooled by the warm colours - it’s very cold up on that hill, so come prepared for some very chilly winds!
Below are some of my favourite images of one lovely sunset over Lisbon…
As a great admirer of classical horsemanship and particularly dressage, the Portuguese School of Equestrian Art was an unmissable stop for me during my time in Lisbon. The riding school has regular shows of classical dressage performed by lusitano horses and their riders, as well as morning training sessions that can be attended by the general public. Our timing was off for their presentations, unfortunately, so instead we attended a morning practice session and guided tour of the school. Below are some of my favourite images of these beautiful Portuguese horses.
In every photographic trip that I take, I try to make the most of the soft light during sunrises and sunsets. This was no different in Portugal. The first sunrise of the trip was photographed at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia, a viewpoint in the Alfama neighbourhood. Even in the peak of the Summer holidays, this was nearly empty for sunrise, suggesting that not many other photographers are aware of this place.
Lisbon truly displays architecture for all tastes. From medieval to colonial and modern, there is a street for everyone. Along with the amenable weather and blue skies, this makes it an unmissable travel destination and endless photographic opportunities. Here I share some of my favourite images of a day walking through the city.
One of our first stops in Lisbon was the Carmo Convent. These are now both convent ruins and an archeological museum in the heart of the city. Despite its tragic history, the Carmo Convent remains an essential part of the Lisbon experience. For a photographer, it was the perfect location to get creative with a wide-angle lens and photograph some more unusual angles and details.
My most recent trip to Portugal started off in the capital city of Lisbon. We spent a few days there enjoying the mouth-watering food and the incredible architecture. Lisbon is famous for its painted tiles, colonial architecture, meandering trams, and colourful streets. All of which I have tried to capture a little bit off for my very first post on it. From now on, I will be posting new content from Portugal every Saturday - so check back next week for more!
