CinX's Travels 2015

[CinX]

Next stop, Figueira da Foz

Untitled by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz (Portuguese pronunciation: [fiˈɣɐjɾɐ ðɐ ˈfɔʃ]), also known as Figueira for short, is a city and a municipality in the Coimbra District, in Portugal. It is located at the mouth of the Mondego River, 40 km west of Coimbra, and sheltered by hills (Serra da Boa Viagem). The population in 2011 was 62,125, in an area of 379.05 km². The city of Figueira da Foz proper has a population of 46,600. It is the second largest city in the district of Coimbra.

It is a coastal city with several beaches, summer and seaport facilities on the Atlantic Ocean coast. As a tourism city, it plays an important part in the centre of the country. A zone of legal gambling, one can find in Figueira one of the biggest casinos of the Iberian Peninsula – the Casino Figueira.

The municipality has some noted landmarks like the Sotto Mayor Palace, the old fishing village of Buarcos, the Serra da Boa Viagem – a small forested mountain by the Atlantic Ocean, several beaches, and its large seaside promenade paved with typical Portuguese pavement. Figueira da Foz has several Churches, many of them in the rich Baroque style, a Municipal Museum with archaeological, ethnographic and artistic collection, the Santa Catarina Fort and the old Buarcos Fortress, the Relógio Tower by the main sandy beachy, several archaeological vestiges throughout the municipality, several Palaces and Manor Houses (like the Sotto Mayor Palace), as well as several green spaces and small gardens like those in the area of Abadias.

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[CinX]

This was an unplanned over-night stay. We actually wanted just to make a 1-2 hour stop and then drive to stay overnight somewhere in the middle between Aveiro and Viseu. But we had problems with our reservation there and Booking solved our troubles by finding a hotel for us without extra charge in Figueira.

We didn't have the greatest weather in the evening, but we enjoyed some great summer heat next morning.

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Some last shots from Figueira before we drive to our new destination

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

The motorway bridge in the background has been completed since

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

Figueira da Foz by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

We leave Figuiera and drive to the beautiful authentic village of Piódão...
Some pictures from the road there.

Road to Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Road to Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Road to Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Our ride
Road to Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Buried deep in the Serra do Açor (a protected landscape area), which is full of breathtaking views, springs and pastureland, the historical village of Piódão is reminiscent of a crib because of the harmonious way in which its houses are arranged in the form of an amphitheatre. At night, when the village´s lights are turned on, this picture is particularly magnificent.

The distinctive feature of this mountain village with its narrow winding streets is schist, a stone found in great abundance in the region and used to build the houses and pavements, forming a large patch of uniform colour, interrupted by the vivid blue of the windows or doors of some houses. This note of dissonant colour owes its origin to a practical consideration, for it is said that the only shop in the village had nothing but blue paint to sell, and in view of the village´s isolation it was not easy for people to travel anywhere else. It has in fact been this isolation and the difficulties in travelling elsewhere that have helped to preserve many of the characteristics of this ancient village intact.

Amongst the group of small two-storey houses, the one building that particularly stands out is the parish church dedicated to Our Lady of the Conception, which is whitewashed and supported by some rather peculiar cylindrical buttresses. It was built by the local population in the early 19th century, with their gold and money.

In view of its hidden setting in the foothills of the serra, Piódão was once an ideal location for fugitives from justice, and it is thought that one of the murderers of D. Inês de Castro went into hiding here, thus escaping the wrath of D. Pedro I (14th century).

A historical village that has never actually played a major part in the History of Portugal, Piódão has become famous more recently because of its scenographic setting in the heart of the Serra do Açor. Such beauty is more than sufficient reason for visiting the village.

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[CinX]

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

[CinX]

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr

Piódão by cinxxx, on Flickr