The unique architecture of the Quinta de Regaleira combines a wealth of Gothic, Egyptian, Moorish and Renaissance features, however one of its most fascinating features is located beneath the ground – a pair of wells spiralling deep within the earth. The pair of wells, known as the ‘Initiation Wells’ or ‘Inverted Towers’, consist of ‘windingContinue reading “Initiation Wells”
Category Archives: architecture
Fairytale in vivid colour
Here’s lots more colourful pictures taken at the magical Pena Palace in Sintra. From exotic bird of paradise plants to Moorish turrets and a child’s paintbox palette, the palace is a tourists dream. All set against a perfect blue sky we couldn’t have picked a better day to immerse ourselves in the crazy world ofContinue reading “Fairytale in vivid colour”
Magical Megalochori
Megalochori is our next stop and it’s another picturesque village. Its existence is recorded all the way back to the 17th century. Home to historical mansions, old traditional houses and wine canavas it is a colourful, traditional little place. Apparently it has a history of merchants exporting the Vinsanto wine that the island still produces. One striking featureContinue reading “Magical Megalochori”
That iconic snap
Onwards with our whistle stop tour of gorgeous little Oia (pronounced EE ah). The town reached the peak of prosperity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its prosperity was based on its merchant fleet, which traded in the Eastern Mediterranean. The two-story captains’ houses built on the highest part of the village are aContinue reading “That iconic snap”
More clifftop views
So, thanks to some posting error on my part, the first part of our clifftop walk appears to have gone live before it should have! (Growl) You can check out cliff top walk part one here. In a nutshell we set out to walk between Fira and Oia along the cliff top over looking theContinue reading “More clifftop views”
Colours of Greece
Mooching around the back streets of Santorini’s capital city Fira we encounter endless splashes of colour, from tea towels to pottery. The turquoise of this door frame contrasts deliciously with the salmon pink of the begonias. Meanwhile Neil adopts his usual role as human photo prop and delicate ceramic bells jingle beguilingly from a shadyContinue reading “Colours of Greece”
Cliff top views
One of the best ways to appreciate the stunning views over the caldera and to experience some of the exquisite (and expensive) cave house hotels is to walk the clifftop between Fira and Oia. It will apparently take you three hours to cover the 9 km distance from Fira to Oia. However, we didn’t make it allContinue reading “Cliff top views”
Altes
On route to our next photogenic village we stop off briefly to take a closer look at one of the many traditional water wheels that are still dotted around the region. They are protected monuments so if you buy land with one on it, it has to stay there forever!! They still function as wellContinue reading “Altes”
Rhodes town
Now dear readers, you all know that we don’t usually do package holidays and yet that is what we found ourselves on in Rhodes. However, never fear, we still managed to break away and do our own thing for a few days. Although we were based in Pefkos we decided to spend a few daysContinue reading “Rhodes town”
More Mostar markets!
Before we headed back to Croatia, we had time to mooch around some more of the picturesque little stalls that line the main cobbled street of Mostar. From colourful slippers to beaten copper work, tiny traditionally attired dolls to artwork, there’s almost too much to take in. Colourful wooden instruments make interesting (and custom friendly)Continue reading “More Mostar markets!”