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. Jude this may be one of my favorite posts ever from you. We loved Lisbon and it has continued to stay high on our list of top cities In the world. We did not have the blog at the time of our visit and really weren’t into photography too much. We were also at the end of a very arduous cycling trip in Spain so I think we just walked about in a bit of a daze. At any rate when I look back I regret not having captured the wonderful stonework in more detail. It made me smile ear to ear to see your fabulous variety of images.

  4. I adored Lisbon. (Of course, we’d just come from Fes so landing somewhere clean and quiet where you didn’t get hassled every minute of the day may have had something to do with my instant love.) The cobblestones are beautiful but murder on your feet.

    1. Thanks Roberto. I imagine it can be done in many Portuguese places, though thinking back to Mozambique in the ’70s I don’t recall any there.

    1. Thanks Meg. I could have spent all my time there taking photos of the pavements, but I didn’t. I looked up some times 😀

  8. This was fascinating … you’re right, it would be difficult to focus on something other than the ground! That wavy pattern is amazing … it creates this illusion that the ground isn’t flat! Cool post 🙂

    1. The ground didn’t feel flat either! When I got up from my knees after taking the shot (not easy I can tell you) I felt distinctly sick. It’s not so bad walking on it as you don’t see the waves as being quite as undulating.

  10. Wonderful patterns, perfect for the challenge. The wave patterns at Rossio Square are so unusual, great photos as always!

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