Tag Archives: Historical Monuments

Weekend in Évora – Day 1

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Art-1-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Cycling Tour of Évora

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Departure From The Ecorkhotel

The night was too short. I always need to redo my suitcase X times until no time … As a result, now my dream team is already on bikes, while I have a green tea break in the patio of the Ecorkhotel  (photo below).

In front of the hotel, our two guides including Teresa Vilas Boas, the owner of Touraventur, explain us our bike tour of Évora (photos below). We start by crossing countryside, because the Ecorkhotel is located on the outskirts of the city and historic center classified World Heritage by Unesco.

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-Ecorkhotel-Terrace-Photo©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-6-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-5-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

The Capela dos Ossos

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-2-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

We stop at the Capela dos Ossos (Chapel of Bones), built in the 16th century by a Franciscan monk. Upon the entry, it says: “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” (“We bones that here are, for yours await”, traduction Wikipedia). 

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-3-Photo©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-7-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-8-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

The Beautiful University of Évora

We take up our bikes and the street steeply climbs and then goes down! This is the first time I use a bike with gears (I think so, LOL)! What a surprise when visiting the Évora University, built by the Jesuits in 1559 and closed in 1759 by the Marquis of Pombal!

The walls of classrooms and corridors are covered with Azulejos (photos below). The kind of university where I would have liked studying!

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-9-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-10-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Wine Tasting and Shopping

To be honest, I’m not fond of the wine tasting, except when I visit a “terroir” (vineyards) or have a wine tasting course like in the Ecole des vins de Bordeaux (the School of Bordeaux wines, in Bordeaux, France). But I really enjoy the decor of the Ervideira wine cellar in a small shopping street in the historic center (left below).

Just opposite, I discovered a restaurant very popular with the local youth … and just about everyone: the Páteo. Before the last bike climb in narrow streets leading to the famous Roman Temple from the second century, I spot these beautiful colorful dishes. And to buy homemade jams : Loja Mó sells products made by people with a handicap.

Pictured below: near the Roman Temple, the Convent of Lóios which is now a pousada. Around 3 p.m., we have lunch. By late afternoon, I finally bring my luggage in the Vitória Stone Hotel, a new design hotel. Well, I feel fantastic, just a few leg cramps (LOL)! To be continued…

Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-11-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K  Portugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-12-Photo©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-14A-Photo©Mademoiselle Le KPortugal-Alentejo-Evora-City-Tour-by-Bicycle-15-Photo©Mademoiselle Le K

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés.

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Visit AlentejoVisit Portugal & Turaventur

Related posts : DESTINATIONSLIFESTYLE & HOTEL REVIEWS

Many thanks to Visit Alentejo and Visit Portugal for this amazing invitation. Also thanks to the great team of Turaventur to turn this bike tour in real pleasure! As always these are my opinions.

Umbria, Italy: Perugia, Art Studio, Mansions and Fine Arts

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-View-From-Casa-Museo-Sorbello-4-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Studio Moretti Caselli

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Studio-Moretti-Caselli-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Refinement and authenticity

Arrived the night before from the little town of Norcia, on our first day of real discovery of Perugia, a city of arts, we follow the PAAST route (Percorsi Arte Artigianato Storia Tradizione: Path Art Crafts History Tradition) that leads us to studio and mansions of noble families.

First visit to the Studio Moretti Caseli Museo, “artistic stained glass”, see the photomontage above: on the first photo, Maddalena Forenza is the fifth generation of this family of stained glass artists. His grandfather Francesco Moretti initiated this activity in 1859.

Beautiful studio with giant drawings made by hand (I am a fan of blavk and white pencil drawings), where dominates classical art in a very old architecture. And you travel in time with taste, refinement and authenticity.

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Near-Studio-Moretti-Caselli-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Nobile Collegio della Mercanzia

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Collegio-della-Mercanzia-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Wealth and Power 

When I enter in the Nobile Collegio della Mercanzia (Noble College of Goods), I am impressed with wooden decorative panels covering walls and high vaulted ceilings. 

In 1342, the Noble College of Goods was the most important company of the city, but had not a specific location until 1390, “when the city, in settlement of a debt of 1400 guilders, granted the guild of merchants” a warehouse on the ground floor of the Palazzo dei Priori, Corso Vannucci (source Wikipedia).

On the first picture: one of four figures representing Prudenza, Fortezza, Giustizia, Temperanza (Prudence, Strength, Justice, Temperance). Photo below: San Lorenzo Cathedral.

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Near-Collegio-della-Mercanzia-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Casa Museo Sorbello

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Casa-Museo-Sorbello-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Near San Lorenzo Cathedral

For our third visit, we discover the mansion Marchesi di Sorbello Bourbon (Marquis of Sorbello Bourbon), a 17th century palazzo with a collection of paintings, porcelain, books, manuscripts and embroidery, as well as furniture and chandeliers of the 18th century. I am not fond of decorative arts of the 18th, too mannerist for me. 

By cons I really liked the will and action of the entrepreneur woman, the Marchesa Romeyne Robert Ranieri di Sorbello to socially empower women by the embroidery, in the early twentieth century. This work allowed them to acquire a financial autonomy and have a better social position.

From the palace terrace, the panoramic views of Perugia and Assisi valley are gorgeous.

              Umbria-Italy-Perugia-In-Front-of-Casa-Museo-Sorbello-1-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Umbria-Italy-Perugia-In-Front-of-Casa-Museo-Sorbello-2-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Casa Museo degli Oddi Marini Clarelli

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Casa-Museo-degli-Oddi-Marini-Clarelli-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

In Porta Santa Susanna Neighborhood

The Palazzo degli Oddi (one of the oldest and most powerful noble families of Perugia) was built in the 16th century. On the first picture of the photo montage above, the beautiful painted wooden ceiling from the early 17th century, of one of the rooms on the ground floor.

Time flies and we head towards the Museo dell’Accademia di Belle Arti (Museum of Fine Arts).

              Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Near-Casa-Museo-degli-Oddi-Marini-Clarelli-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K  Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Around-Museo-dell'Accademia-di-Belle-Arti-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

Museo dell’Accademia di Belle Arti

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Museo-dell'Accademia-di-Belle-Arti-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

In the Academy of Fine Arts

founded in 1573: the museum presents in its main gallery, the plasters of famous artists such as Michell’Angelo and in the two other galleries, paintings, drawings and prints.

I lingered long among the plasters (some with giant proportions). The inspiring nice space also boasts a lovely natural light.

Déjeuner à l’Umbrò

Umbria-Italy-Perugia-Lunch-Umbro-Photo ©Mademoiselle Le K

At the beginning of the afternoon I am happy to finally sit down and have lunch at the Umbrò, a friendly modern place, both fast food and fine grocery of Italian products. To be continued …

Photos : © Mademoiselle Le K – Tous droits réservés

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Regione Umbria, PAAST route and Alitalia

Related posts : DESTINATIONS & LIFESTYLE

Many thanks for this beautiful invitation to Regione Umbria et Alitalia. As always these opinions are my own.