Fantasy in stone

Another historic quarter of Lisbon, Baixa - the exact opposite of the patriarchal Alfama. Wide straight streets stretched out in rows on the central square Rosiu called "the heart of Lisbon, to the Market Square near the waterfront Tagus. This order is a tragic reason: Baixo rebuilt after the horrific earthquake in 1755, when the city was virtually destroyed. The disaster has claimed tens of thousands, and survivors have lost everything. Nonetheless, Lisbon was rebuilt fairly quickly thanks to the energy and administrative genius of the then Portuguese prime minister - the minister, the Marquis of Pombal, Jose Sebastian. Restoration was carried out strictly according to plan, it is geometrically adjusted through the quarter, which to this day remains a respectable shopping center in Lisbon. Merit Pombal had not been forgotten: the Marquis received a monument in the square named in his honor. Lisbon is situated in the hills. Some say that their seven others - that fourteen. The second version seems more plausible, since a walk around the city like a hike on mountain trails: an endless series of ups and downs. If you're tired of stepping on the pavement Lisbon bridge - take the tram number 28, it will take you through the historic center. By the way, these pretty, brightly painted retrotramvaychiki - on their own attraction, and ride on them is a pleasure. Facades of old houses and churches in Lisbon (and other Portuguese cities) are decorated with beautiful azulezhush - ceramic tiles with images on a variety of topics: from domestic scenes to Biblical stories. Blue - white tiles are very similar to our Gzhel painting. Another "business card" of Portuguese architecture - a style Manueline, got its name from King Manuel I of Merry, who ruled the country from 1495 to 1521. Manueline - a motley mix of Gothic, Renaissance, Moorish motifs and nautical theme. The classic example Manueline - Lisbon's Jeronimos Monastery, decorated with images of ship anchors, exotic plants and fantastic sea monsters. All this - the fruit of imagination of Portuguese architects, inspired by stories about the wonders of travel overseas. So there was Manueline - fantasy, etched in stone.