We're leaving town for a few days in Porto. Finally using the car we've had since the 1st of this month. It's a 3.5 hour trip via highway. However, since we're in no hurry we have programmed the GPS for "Ecological" -- an alternative to "fastest" and "most direct."
Our first stop is Alcobaca, a lovely little in-land town with a famous monastery. It's about time for lunch on a Sunday afternoon so when we saw a sign that looked promisig, found a little out-of-the-way restaurant in an alley. Restaurante Antoio Padeiro, located in the basement of the building, is a treasure trove of delightfully displayed and/or utilized yard and estate sale finds. The napkin rings are curved forks and spoons. Even the appetizer tray is a slab of marble on forks and spoons used as handles and base. See photo:
Note the handles for this cute little tray.
After lunch we visited the monastery - a massive structure built between 1178 and 1223. It is the burial place of a number of Portuguese kings and other notables, including Dom Pedro and his lover Inez. Interesting story, Dom Pedro's father had Inez assassinated. When Pedro became king he had her remains moved to Alcobaca where she is interred and where he declared her queen. He is interred there as well. The interior of the church is "stark" by Portuguese standards in keeping with the tastes of St. Barnard to whom the monastery is dedicated. It is no less imposing, however, due to its sheer size.
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| The Monastery of Alcobaca |
When we realized our "ecological" path would get us to our hotel in Porto late, we changed to "fastest" and arrived at the Yeatman by 6:00 after a rather convoluted trip through Vila Nova Gaia - the city across the Douro river from Porto.
After a delightful dinner in one of the hotel's dining rooms, we enjoyed a drink and the view of Porto and retired after a delightful day.
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I had to google that monastery to find out more. Beautiful inside and explains why it is considered early Gothic. I would never have guessed that from the exterior.
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