13 MAY 2017.DAY 7 : LISBON,PORTUGAL.

13 MAY 2017.DAY 7  : LISBON,PORTUGAL.

This is screenshot of Map of Day 7 of our Spain Potugal,Morocco Trip .

 Places of attraction Lisbon City.

Screen shot of map, above, gives limited information. "Interactive Map" gives much more information. For interactive map go here. 

OR go to this link  goo.gl/d3mkEi

With this URL,Interactive map should open in a new window

To navigate through this map use the left vertical panel on the map :
1. The size of this map can be increased or decreased as with normal maps.

2. The panel gives contents of the map which are self explanatory.Placing the cursor  on any item,say Plaza De España/Spain Square, in this panel will highlight Plaza De España in the interactive map.

3. Click on Plaza De España Spain Square in panel it will open an information window in the interactive map giving information about Plaza De España Spain Square.Photos about that place have been uploaded.These photos will will also show in the information window.To know about the captions and other details of photos, you will have to visit album for day 7.For this go here.

4. Similar action can be repeated for information on all other places given on interactive map.

Today we go to Lisbon Portugal.

Started from our Hotel Melia Lebreros,Seville around 0745.Distance from Seville to 540 Kms plus.As per the normal practice stopped around half way to Lisbon st a Highway Service Area. These areas have a Restaurant,a prtrol pump,rest room facilities,a small shop with common medicines,toys for kids , chocolates,eatables etc . Almost all the items which may be needed by a family going on long road trip. 

Just short of Lisbon crossed Ponte 25 de Abril bridge.Till 1974 it was called Salazar bridge.This was changed to Ponte 25 de Abril bridge to commemorate  Carnation Revolution of 25 April1974.It is 2277 mtr long.This striking Golden Gate-style suspension bridge spans River Tagus.

In Lisbon we were dropped at Liberty Avenue from where we had to walk to Maharaja Restaurant for lunch.

LISBON

Reached Liberty Avenue around 1400 h.

Avenida da Liberdade (literally "Liberty Avenue" in Portuguese) is an important avenue in central Lisbon, Portugal. It is a 90 metre-wide boulevard, 1100 m long, with ten lanes divided by pedestrian pavements decorated with gardens.There are lots of Statues, small shops selling mementos and decorative nicknack's. a leisurely stroll on Liberty Avenue is an experience not to be missed.One can get some good photos here.

Statue of Neptune on Liberty Avenue.

Monument to the fallen in World War I (1931) on Liberty Avenue.

Another view.

Monument to the fallen in World War I (1931) on Liberty Avenue.

Statue of  Simon Bolivar.Liberty avenue.Do'nt miss the beautiful flowers.

Full details at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simón_Bolívar

BELEM TOWER 

Belem Tower

Belém Tower or the Tower of St Vincent[ is a fortified tower located in Lisbon, Portugal. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of the significant role it played in the Portuguese maritime discoveries of the era of the Age of Discoveries. The tower was commissioned by King John II to be part of a defence system at the mouth of the Tagus river and a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon.

The tower was built in the early 16th century and is a prominent example of the Portuguese Manueline style, but it also incorporates hints of other architectural styles. The structure was built from lime limestone and is composed of a bastion and a 30-metre (98.4 ft); four-storey tower. It has incorrectly been stated that the tower was built in the middle of the Tagus and now sits near the shore because the river was redirected after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. In fact, the tower was built on a small island in the Tagus River near the Lisbon shore.

All along both sides Belem Tower on river bank , there are lots of Parks , Monuments and the view across and along the river are really worth looking . 

Approaching Belem Tower

Belem Tower. 

 With the model of Belem Tower

From Belem Park ,.View of Salazar Bridge or Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge . We had crossed this bridge while coming to Lisbon.

One such monument near Balem Tower commemorates The first aerial crossing of the South Atlantic made by  Portuguese naval aviators Gago Coutinho and Sacadura Cabral in 1922, to mark the centennial of Brazil's independence.It was achieved in Fairey III-D MkII seaplane. Replica of this aircraft is displayed at Belem Tower Park near Belem tower . Actual aircraft has been preserved in Naval Museum.Although the North Atlantic had already been traversed in a non-stop flight by John Alcock and Arthur Brown in 1919, Coutinho and Cabral's flight remains notable as a milestone in transatlantic aviation, and for its use of new technologies such as the artificial horizon.

 Fairey III-D MkII seaplane.In which 1st North Atlantic crossing was made .Original seaplane is in Naval Museum.. 

Fairey III-D MkII seaplane In which 1st North Atlantic crossing was made .Original seaplane is in Naval Museum.

This was the end of our visit to Belem Towert.For more photos of Day 7 and Belem Tower go here or to link goo.gl/rZwfw3

After this we proceeded to Monuments Of Discoveries.

MONUMENT OF DISCOVERIES.

Monument Of Discoveries.

Monument of the Discoveries is a monument on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary,  Lisbon. Located along the river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and Orient, the monument celebrates the Portuguese Age of Discovery (or Age of Exploration) during the 15th and 16th centuries

Initially a temporary Monument was constructed on 1939 for Portuguese World fair opening in June 1940.It was demolished in 1943.

In 1958 Govt took decision to build a permanent monument to celebrate fifth centennial of the death of Infante Henry the Navigator

Between November 1958 and January 1960, the new monument was constructed in cement and rose-tinted stone and the statues sculpted from limestone.It was inauguration in 1960 with 32 ships of 14 nations.The The Monument was also intended to commemorate 5 centuries from the death of Infante Henry the Navigator.

The monument is decorated with motifs which call forth the age of the great discoveries, seafaring motifs and armillary spheres included. On top of the fact the monument stands out in sharp relief by its dimensions, it catches the eye by the 34 statues which decorate the two sides. The main statue is the one which represents Henry the Navigator, while other figures rendered are important personalities who, one way or another, have contributed to Portugal’s reputation in the age of discoveries: poets, explorers, navigators, crusaders, and mapmakers, with key figures like Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Felipa of Lancaster and Camoes.

The interior of the monument is divided in three levels. The ground floor contains an auditorium (with multimedia exhibitions which cover the topic of Lisbon’s history), the second floor accommodates two exhibition halls, and four other rooms are located on the third floor. The top of the monument is often used as watchtower, the Tagus (Tejo) River.

The complete courtyard in front of the monument ia made of tiles containing Mosaic of the world map.On the Map are recorded the discoveries made by Portuguese Navigators with dates of accomplishments.on Indian sub and African Continents.Due to large crowd milling around all over it is almost impossible to get clear pictures of these mosaics.Here are few pictures of monument.

Monument Of Discoveries.

Monument Of Discoveries.

Monument Of Discoveries.Lead Statue Henry the Navigator.

Monument Of Disclveries.Lead Statue Henry the Navigator.and other main contributors to discoveries.

Monument Of Discoveries.Ponte 25 de Abril Bridge in background.110 mtrs tall 

Christ the King statue in far background.

Map at Monument Of Disclveries.Here Indiaan continent

 Map at Monument Of Discoveries.Here Indian continent.

End of sightseeing at Monument of Discoveries.For more photos of Day 7 and Belem Tower go here or to link goo.gl/rZwfw3.

Next we go to Jerónimos Monastery,and Church of Santa Maria.

JERONIMOS MONASTERY AND CHURCH OF SAINT MARIA..

This photo is of South Portal , Church Of Santa Maria.This shrine-like portal is large, 32 metres (105 ft) high and 12 metres (39 ft) wide, extending two stories. Its ornate features includes an abundance of gables and pinnacles, with many carved figures standing under a baldachin in carved niches, around a statue of Henry the Navigator, standing on a pedestal between the two doors.

Jerónimos Monastery,and Church of Santa Maria.Even though co-located for reasons unknown(to me at least)generally the complex is referred is "Jerónimos Monastery" only.

The Jerónimos Monastery or Hieronymites Monastery , is a former monastery of the Order of Saint Jerome near the Tagus river in  Lisbon it was secularised on 28 December 1833 by state decree and its ownership transferred to the charitable institution, Real Casa Pia de Lisboa.The monastery is one of the most prominent examples of the Portuguese Late Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. It was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, along with the nearby Tower of Belém, in  1983.

The Jerónimos Monastery replaced the church formerly existing in the same place, which was dedicated to Santa Maria de Belém and where the monks of the military-religious Order of Christ provided assistance to seafarers in transit.The harbour of Praia do Restelo was an advantageous spot for mariners, with a safe anchorage and protection from the winds, sought after by ships entering the mouth of the Tagus.The existing structure was inaugurated on the orders of Manuel I (1469–1521) at the courts of Montemor o Velho in 1495, as a final resting-place for members of the House of Aviz, in his belief that an Iberian dynastic kingdom would rule after his death. In 1496, King Manuel petitioned the Holy See for permission to construct a monastery at the site.The Hermitage of Restelo (Ermida do Restelo), as the church was known, was already in disrepair when Vasco da Gama and his men spent the night in prayer there before departing on their expedition to the Orient  in 1497.The construction of the monastery and church began on 6 January 1501, and was completed 100 years later.  

South Portel details.

Luís de Camões tomb in the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém,

The columns and roof design.Interior Jerónimos Monastery,/Church of Saint Mary. 

Main Chapel.Jerónimos Monastery,/Chursc of Saint Mary. 

tomb of navigator Vasco da Gama.

Main Chapel.

Main Chapel.

The columns and roof design.

Two-storey cloisters.Monastery.

Manueline ornamentation in the cloisters of Jerónimos Monastery.

By this time it was 1830.We left the river bank and hosts of monuments and went to Restaurant Passage of India.Had dinner and proceeded to hotel. Did not know but the hotel was 72 odd kms away from Lisbon.The hotel was O Hotel Golf Mar.

Our Hotel during Lisbon stay.

After check in called it a day. 

Tomorrow we in the morning we leave for Fatima. From there go directly to Lisbon to see leftover monuments and by night return to hotel.

END DAY 7.