Literally Portugal: A nation with a poet’s soul
November 26, 2020
For a small country, Portugal has a rich literary tradition. Portugal’s 2nd king was a poet, and every generation has produced writers of note. Today, mountains, monuments and an infinite sea make for inspiration. Here are a few places that have a writer's touch:
Cadeia da Relação (Porto)
What today is the Photography Museum was once a prison where Camilo Castelo Branco was incarcerated for running off with his lover. While in prison, Camilo wrote the romance Amor de Perdição and Memórias de Cárcere. Camilo’s cell is open for visitors.
A Brasileira (Lisbon)
Where the poet Fernando Pessoa used to hang out. A statue of Fernando Pessoa invites anyone to seat next to him and discuss metaphysics.
Convento de Mafra (Mafra)
In Mafra lies the stage to one of the famous novels by the Nobel-prize winner José Saramago: Baltasar and Blimunda. It is the story of royalty and church corruption, centered in the construction of the Convento de Mafra. The monument turns 300 next year.
Penedo da Saudade (Coimbra)
A park of poetry? Yes, once a hillside that King D. Pedro took to grieve the loss of his beloved Inês, become a park in the 20th century, where student of the university inscribed verses of love, loss and friendship on stone monuments.
Castle of Penedono (Centro)
The gallant tale of the knight Magriço and the 12 of England as told by Camões, Teófilo Braga and others comes alive in the ruined castle of Álvaro Gonçalves Coutinho, the great Magriço himself.
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