Art Beneath Your Feet

A city where it is impossible not to look at what is beneath your feet is Lisbon, Portugal. The endless intricate patterns of the cream and black cobbles automatically draw your eyes down. Known as  calçada (Portuguese Pavements) some, like the wave pattern above and below in Praca Dom Pedro IV Square (Rossio), can even interfere with your balance and make people look as though they are floating above the pavement.

Waves
This is where it all started, Rossio Square, given the wave patterns in 1849.
Arch to Praca do Comércio
Belem Wave pattern
Belem Astrological Sign – Gemini

In Belém coloured marble is used with the flat cobbles to create patterns and pictures including a map of the world depicting the voyages that Portuguese explorers made during the Age of Discovery.

The Discovery Map
South-westerlies
Arco da Rua Agusta
Arco da Rua Agusta
Pavement in Bairro Alto
Astology signs in Belem
Pattern

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

55 thoughts on “Art Beneath Your Feet”

  1. I bet there are lots of ‘bumping into accidents’! Fabulous art work. Thank you so much for sharing it Jude

  2. I guess we need to go back. The stolen purse incident put a real dampener on our last visit but I still have things to see. I’ve got a real yen for the Azores too, and there’s no shortage of these tiles there either. Come to think of it, Madeira had oodles too. 🙂 Great shots, Jude! I love the rooftop one.

    1. Have you been to Madeira? There is a lady who has a stall on the market here who visits every January to avoid winter. I must admit I am tempted. Never looked at the Azores.

      1. Madeira is stunningly beautiful, Jude. I spent my 60th there. The flowers are fabulous but, of course, there’s a bit of rain to go with 🙂 The Azores have rather a short ‘season’ but budget flights now operate there from Portugal. I’m scheming 🙂

        1. When is their rainy season then? And where did you stay? I think the market lady stays in a hotel in Funchal as they do good winter breaks.

    1. I have a pair of sunglasses that do that, I loathe them for going down steps. The wave pattern was more noticeable as I crouched down to take the photo, but at proper height is’s not too bad!

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