Apexphotos Landscape Collection Gallery

Dam on the Douro River, Portugal_bw

Douro, Portugal - 11 April 2014

Dam and red boat on the Douro River of Portugal.

The scenic Douro Valley, which runs from the Atlantic coast at Porto all the way into Central Spain, was the first designated wine region in the world. Its vinhateiro (winegrowing) area, devoted to vineyards from Roman times, has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The pretty rolling hills by the Douro river are covered by terraced vineyards in whitewashed quintas (wine estates); the wine, Muscatel, Port and Madeira they produce was traditionally shipped down the river to Porto - and the world beyond - by traditional flat-bottomed rabelo boats.

During the 1950s and 60s, however, a series of locks and dams - including thois one - was constructed on the river to improve navigability. Paradoxically, this stopped the traditional transport of wine down the river by these old boats. This is now done, rather less glamorously, by tankers. Oh dear

© Jon Bower at Apexphotos

Four evangelists in stained glass

From the nave of St Helen's Church, an image of the four evangelists; note their emblems - the bull, eagle, book and lion - are all included.

A Christian place of worship has been at this location at the confluence of the Thames and Ock rivers, since the year 995. In fact, a Saxon Minster may have been here since the 7th Century.

The Church is named after St Helen, the mother of Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the official state religion of Rome. It is reputed that she visited the Holy Land in her old age and found fragments of the cross

© Jon Bower at Apexphotos

Endless steps to the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos RemA©dios in Lamego, with war memorial

Lamego, Portugal - 15 March 2017
Lamego is a pretty historic town in North Portugal's scenic Douro Valley. Its long history dates back to pre-Roman times. Its most important landmark is the Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos RemA©dios - Our Lady of Remedies: this major pilgrimage site is located at the top of the hill of St. Stephen, which overlooks the town centre.
Built in 1750, an imposing staircase of 686 steps leads from the town to the church at the top of the hill. This is adorned by beautiful tiled murals and artworks. Ascent of the staircase not recommended; going down is just fine, though - so guess what I did?
Here we also see a rather uglier fascist-era war memorial in the street below