Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes. Tomar, Portugal

 

The city of Tomar, Portugal, is a fascinating place. It sits close to the geographic center of the country, along the Nabão River. I visited Tomar on a beautiful day in August. I will write more about Tomar next week, but today I want to introduce you to what seems to me to be an often looked-over jewel of the city - Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes - Seven Hills National Forest.

 

This city forest occupies 39 hectares (approx. 100 acres) just below Tomar’s most famous attraction, the Castle and Convent of the Order of Christ. The Order of Christ were originally known as the Knights Templar. The park starts at the bottom of a valley, across from the city’s main tourist office. Its gates are guarded by a statue of Infante Henrique - Prince Henry the Explorer. Henry was the architect of Portuguese exploration and colonialism in the 16th century. He developed this plan while staying at the castle in Tomar.

Prince Henry the Explorer

Office of Tourism

 

The National Forest is a beautiful place for a walk. It was originally part of the monastery, a place for the monks to walk and contemplate. In 1938 it was converted into a public space. The paths are well developed, and most of them are heavily shaded. This makes even summer walks comfortable. For my visit I decided to head up to the highest point of the park, a 2.7 mile round trip, with a gain of 410 feet in elevation to the midway point. I chose this destination because at the high point is the “panoramic swing.” You can sit on the swing and have the park, the castle and entire city laid out before you. And if you are brave enough, you can swing out over the edge of the cliff. 

 

Castle of the Order of Christ

Panoramic Swing

Nearby, is the Charolinha do Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes. The Charolinha is a “Casa Fresca” or a fresh house, that is a place that walkers could stop and and refresh themselves, and hide away from the surrounding world. 

Charolinha do Mata Nacional

 

Sete Montes is a wonderful place to escape the heat of the old city of Tomar. You can take a short walk in the shade, or hike up to Panoramic swing. Either way, you will enjoy the escape into nature.

 

Nuts and Bolts

• The Mata Nacional dos Sete Montes is located at Avenida Dr. Vieira Guimarães 1 2300, Tomar, Portugal.
• It is free at all times.
• The forest is open seven days a week basically from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga, Lisbon Portugal

 

Looking to the MNAA

This summer I took an extended trip to Portugal, but I only had one afternoon and evening in Lisbon. I booked a room at the Emerald House Hotel, part of the Hilton Hotel chain. The hotel is on the edge of the Tagus River in the Santos neighborhood.

 

 

In the 18th century, Santos was the home to many aristocratic families, who built large houses on the hillside leading from the river to the Estrella neighborhood. These old buildings have been preserved, serving as hotels and apartments today. There are many restaurants and clubs in the area. I enjoyed a post-flight lunch at Geographia, a restaurant the serves dishes from across the Portuguese speaking countries of the world.

 

 

The Emerald House is across the street from one of the gems of Santos’ tourist attractions - The National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA). Portugal’s national collection of art was initially created after the 1833 abolition of religious orders. The government closed the monasteries and confiscated their artwork and ornaments. It grew during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as several democratic revolutions brought an end to Portugal’s aristocracy and the added these “royal” collections to the national one.

 

 

Altarpiece of Madre de Deus by Jorge Afaro

The Annunciation by unkown

The Good Shepard by Frei Carlos

Martyrdom of St. Andrew by Cristóvão de Figueiredo

Martyrdom of St. Hippolytus by Cristóvão de Figueiredo

By 1884, the national gallery contained too much art for one museum. So they divided it up, creating the Museo Nacional de Arte Antiga, which houses all pieces made before 1850. The MNAA was placed in the Palácio Alvor-Pombal, in Santos. This building is from the late 17th century. Its architecture is typical for that era. The house presents a long high wall to the main street, while the entrance is in a courtyard along its shorter side. Its rooms have high ceilings. There is also a garden at its lower level, that overlooks the Tagus River and its bustling port.

 

Portrait of Domingos and Mariana Benedicta Vitória de Sequeiro by Domingos Antonio de Sequeiro

Portrain of Dona Isabel de Moura by Domingos Vieira

Martyrdom of St. Sebastian by Gregório Lopes

Ecce Homo by Unknown

A Wall of Apostles

Winter Landscape by Gustave Courbet

 

Whether you are visiting Lisbon for a short or an extended stay, the Santo neighborhood and the MNAA should be on your list of places to see.

Nuts and Bolts

• The MNAA is at Rue das Janeles Verdes 1249-017
• It is open Tuesdays - Sundays 10h -18h (6:00 PM)
• Entrance fees are €10 for Adults. Students, Seniors and youth are €5.

Hobart NY and the Western Catskills

West Branch Delaware River, Hobart NY

 

 

The Catskill Mountains occupy the southeastern corner of New York State. While they don’t reach the heights of the Rockies, The Catskill’s rolling forests are beautiful. Every year, the Amazing Ms. D and I head up to the town of Hobart, NY, on the western side of the Catskills, for a weekend of writers and books.

 

 

Modeled after the Welsh town of Hye on Way, Hobart NY has seven bookstores in a town of 350 people. Each store has its own theme. There is an antiquarian store; one specializes in mysteries and science fiction; one that offers cookbooks and home decor; and of course, one is a popular fiction store. The stores work together, buying used books in bulk, and divvying them up. They work to bring visitors to this part of Delaware County. In that effort, the stores and Hobart host a Festival of Woman’s Literature in early June, inviting thirty or so writers to lead workshops and read from their work.

 

The Catskills are a great place for exploration. As you drive its roads, you pass through beautiful scenery. The towns you pass have histories that stretch back over two hundred years. Just about anywhere you stop, you will find historic buildings. Walton NY offers several beautiful old buildings. In the Gardner Place Historic District is the William B. Ogden Free Library, built in 1897. Ogden was born in Walton, and went on to make money as a railroad owner, and he became the first mayor of Chicago. In his will, Ogden left money to Walton, and the town decided to use this bequest to build the library. 

Ogden Free Library

Christ Episcopal Church

 

Nearby is the Walton Theater, which shares its building with the town offices. Built in 1912, the theater serves as both a movie house and host to live shows and musical performances. 

 

Walton Theater

Across the river is the old Walton Armory. Built in 1896, it is now the home of Castle on the Delaware, a restaurant and event space. Next to armory is a building that was its administration offices. Today they are the home of the Walton Grange No. 1454.

 

Castle on the Delaware

 

 

Some classic cars just hanging out

This part of the Catskills is also where you can find several examples of traditional covered bridges. The hamlet of Hamden has a beautiful bridge crossing the West Branch of the Delaware River, and Downsville has a covered bridge crossing the East Branch of the Delaware. Both are beautiful, and they offer parking areas, so that you can explore the areas around the bridges.

Hamden Covered Bridge

Downsville Covered Bridge

East Branch of the Delaware River

 

The western Catskills are beautiful. It is a lot quieter and less touristy than its eastern counterpart. Come and enjoy this beautiful land.

Nuts and Bolts

• Walton NY is 142 miles northwest of New York City, traveling along NY 17 to Roscoe and then NY 206 into town.
• Hobart NY is 33 miles northeast of Walton along route NY 10