Sortelha, a photo from Guarda, North

Photographer's Note

Have a Good Easter my friends:)
Being a border region, thus suffering continuous attacks and sieges, it is not surprising that both Spanish and Portuguese kings built numerous strongholds here, and the county of Sabugal alone counts five castles: Alfaiates, Vilar Maior, Sabugal, Vila do Touro e Sortelha.

The latter (at about 20 kilometres/12 miles from Sabugal) is enchanting: built in the 13th century, it offers stunning views over the countryside and has a 16th-century pillory with na armillary sphere on top in front of the arched castle entrance.

The historic village of Sortelha has gained the title of "museum-village" and is extremely well preserved with its stony lanes and granite houses (some have been turned into restaurants), besides the 16th-century church with a Mudejar ceiling.

Sabugal has its own castle with an unusual five-sided keep and imponent walls with towers.

The region is known for its fondness for bullfights (namely the local variation, called "capeia", where everyone taunts the bull), and some of the villages� names reflect this enthusiasm, as is the case of Vila do Touro ("Bull Town").

The nearby Serra da Malcata includes a natural reserve designed to protect about 20 sq. km/eight sq. miles of forested wilderness and refuge of wolves, otters and valuable vegetable species. But it is specially known for being one of the last homes of the rare Iberian lynx (Lynx pardina), and there is a campaign to save this endangered species.

The region愀 gastronomy offers specialities such as wild boar, "caldeirada de cabrito" (kid stew) and "coelho bravo" (wild rabbit stew).

ribeiroantonio, kiwi_explorer, izler, syd1946, njmv79, atus, sufi, Cricri, Henryk_Bilor, john_c, pablominto, cuneyt-sb, AiresSantos, xuaxo, pranab, NellyD, elmec, Scharan has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

ribeiroantonio (22730) 2007-04-08 6:54

Uma boa P嫳coa para ti tamb螜, com folares e caldeirada de cabrito � moda da Sortelha.
Parece que � um trajecto cl嫳sico ir ao Pi鏚緌 e � Sortelha. Foi o que eu fiz h� quase dois anos. Fix嫥os a base no Pi鏚緌 e depois passe嫥os pela regi緌.
Sobre a tua foto, gosto muito daquela pessoa no cimo das muralhas. Parece cl嫳sico, pois uma das minhas fotos da Sortelha aqui no TE tamb幦 tem alguem ao longe, na muralha.
Ant鏮io

izler (8) 2007-04-08 7:28

hello my friend
i see another interesting and beautiful historical place from your country. i like composition, point of view, colours, lighting and details. i hope you show nice photos of this region's gastronomy in treklens
thanks for sharing
regards
izler

syd1946 (1167) 2007-04-08 9:10

Hello Ana,
The old village contrasting very well the wonderful blue sky.
Interesting note as well,I find it very informative!

Best wishes,
Thomas

njmv79 (611) 2007-04-08 9:48

Ol� Ana, uma pascoa feliz para ti e para os teus ente queridos,
a tua foto est� muito curiosa, adorei a pessoa em cima da muralha desperta logo a aten誽o das pessoas quando olhamos para a foto, parab幯s,
Nelson

atus (15878) 2007-04-08 17:29

Hi Ana,
very well captured shot of a nice perspective. The pov is very good and the light is well managed. The soft colours are very nice.
Well done and Happy Easter!
Attila

sufi (9588) 2007-04-08 20:57

Merhaba Ana, my friend...
It's another wonderful point of view and perspective indeed... The tones of the gray, the light, and the contrast between the roofs's red and other colors are wonderful... The silhouette of the child on the wall is great...
TFS...
Stay well..
Salim.

Graal (103040) 2007-04-09 2:39

Hi Ana,
interesting historical old walls and buildings, good note. I like the colours and composition. Well done.
Gr., Aleksander

kiwi_explorer (12209) 2007-04-09 3:31

Hi Ana,
A lot of work building these walls. Interesting to note how these walls has lasted that long ... I think it is because of good quality workmanship. You've done well in capturing a diffcult scene to compose. Good job ... tfs.
Cheers,
Renier

Cricri (176) 2007-04-09 13:39

Bonsoir Ana,
Un endroit int廨essant et plein de curiosit�, excellent POV, belle pr廥ervation des couleurs et lumi廨e du moment, compliment
friendly greetings
cricri

Henryk_Bilor (20803) 2007-04-09 16:59

Hi Ana
Lovely capture of the village. Many interesting details and good light.
Regards

paura (25802) 2007-04-09 20:09

Ana,
Como se gastou pedras para construir isso! E eles eram realmente bons nisso. Os detalhes arquitet獼icos est緌 vivamente captados. Linda foto.

Paulo

john_c (24666) 2007-04-11 10:48

Hi Ana,
A well composed and interesting shot of this old castle ruin. I like the manifold objects of interest that absorb the eye here and also the way nature has taken over in places with bushes and trees growing. The person walking warms and enhances. Well captured...later.
John

pablominto (53746) 2007-04-12 3:27

Hi Ana,
This is an interesting place depicted, with a lot of details for me to explore!
Your point of view is good, the light comes in a good angle and adds life to the place...
Well composed, sharp fine details!
Greetings,
Pablo -

:-) OK-

cuneyt-sb (6576) 2007-04-13 17:35

Hi Ana
There is two people in your movie! :) nice compo and good POV.
Colors and sharpnes is very good.
TFS\Kind regards and happy Easter

xuaxo (6854) 2007-04-17 7:59

Gosto das pedras/rochas nos seus diversos aspectos nas casas e ch緌.
F

pranab (5354) 2007-04-26 12:24

ana,
excellent play of light and shadow in this composition. great color and many small details to explore in this shot. great note to add some life in this composition. well done.

NellyD (1874) 2007-04-28 6:38

Hi Ana,

Very good capture of this village.
Beautiful colours and a very interesting note.
Thanks for sharing!

Greetings, Nel

AiresSantos (56155) 2007-04-28 13:18

Ola Ana,
Uma belissima foto desta localidade do interior. Aqui podemos ver as casas tipicas construidas em pedra.
Excelente perspectiva, luz e cores
Um abra蔞
Aires

elmec (12210) 2007-05-03 2:33

Hello Ana!
Very interesting place of the red roofs and stone walls!
Very good composed with the people!
Great work!
Best regards!