Azeitão

 

Laura rolling out the mud

In the town of Azeitão, we visited a tile artisan shop. Dagmar demonstrated the process beginning with rolling out the river mud, it is dried for one to three months before being fired for 19 hours, then a white glaze is applied. They primarily make traditional tiles in blue, white, and yellow, but can make many other mineral colors. We were given the opportunity to hand paint our own tile. They’ll fire them today.

Our cheese makers

Then we visited a nearby dairy farm, and they demonstrated the traditional way of making their local sheep cheese. They use wild artichoke, cardon, to provide the unique taste. Milk is poured through a cheese cloth that has salt to begin the curdling process. Six of us were asked to help separating the curds from the whey. Then we were treated to four differently aged version of the cheese.

View from Castle

In the afternoon I did a walk of the Alfama District. I started at the Cathedral, the church was closed, then the Church of St. Anthony, tradition says he was born here. Then up the hill to the Castle of St. George originally built by the Moors. The Castle as several great viewpoints over the city. The outer walls and the castle walls remain. I walked the castle walls. There is also a small museum with artifacts from the castle. From here you walk down this hill and walk up a nearby hill to view the castle from the Church of Christ, famous for its Christ carrying the cross which is carried through the streets during Holy Week.

Entry to the Monastery

Down the hill is the Monastery of St. Vincent de Fora. The entry to the Monastery was stunning. Throughout the walls and staircases at traditional blue and white, azulejo tiles. The sacristy is decorated with marble statues and paintings. There also was an exhibit of tiles pictures depicting the Fables of La Fontaine published in 1668. Further down the hill is the National Pantheon where many famous figures are buried. I hurried past the Fado Museum because dinner was approaching.