Village center - Ponte de Lima | Portugal

Hello everyone :)

Continuing through northern lands.
I realized that i started the previous visit without a brief introduction to the origin of the “random” planning that led me to this place.
I woke up very early in the morning on a weekend with a cloudy and gray sky that threatened persistent rain throughout the day, not only visible in the sky but also announced by the meteorological website that i usually consult.
Even so, i decided to take a risk and continue my journey towards the charming historic town of Ponte de Lima, which i already had the opportunity to visit several times, but always before my stay here at Hive, and as a number of years have passed since the last visit, it was decided, even if it was to walk those streets with umbrella in the hand.

Upon arriving at the village, we are immediately captivated by the enchanting atmosphere that surrounds it, full of authentic treasures of ancient and historic buildings preserved in time, designed with narrow streets that meander between the buildings, creating a picturesque and welcoming environment, similar to many other ancient villages that I've had the pleasure of being able to share here.
As we walked through the streets without a certain destination, i noticed a gradual change in the weather and meanwhile the sun's rays began to pierce the tall gray clouds and create shadows that shaped the high tops of the most varied monuments scattered throughout the village.

A mild temperature began to warm the air and that initially gray day turned into a sunny and pleasant day, and although i loved the contrast of the photographs taken in a gray and mysterious environment, i felt grateful for the new perspective that the sun gave me, it was even possible to take advantage of those terraces set up right in the center of the squares to have a drink, snack on a delicacy from the area and appreciate this authentic medieval painting with life under a golden tone of rare beauty.
As we were still relatively close to the car, i went back to put the umbrella away as everything indicated that it would not be necessary and would only get in the way :)

The movement in the village was moderate and orderly, with tourists from all over the world walking through the streets, just like me, marveling at the historic architecture and the charming atmosphere, most of the visitors were Spanish, certainly due to the proximity of the village to the neighboring Spain.
Everywhere you could hear the Spanish language mixed with Portuguese, creating a multicultural and lively environment, because when Portuguese and Spanish people get together, the atmosphere is always very exciting :)

Among some of the historical sites that i explored throughout this article, which will form part of a broader approach, divided by other articles, i would like to highlight the Igreja Matriz de Ponte de Lima (Ponte de Lima Church), which was built on the basis of a small temple from the 12th century and which most later gave rise to the construction we can see today, with a single tripartite nave and two side chapels, with an erudite portico in the form of a triumphal arch.
In that small square it is possible to visualize an important part of the rich and fascinating past of Ponte de Lima, for brief moments it seems that time has stopped in that place, allowing us to immerse ourselves in centuries of history.

Who would believe that only in 2013 would it be classified as a Monument of Public Interest?
Next to the church there is also the Municipal Library, protected by the sculpture of an imposing Bull and the Misericórdia Church.

Still in the center, in Praça da República, welcoming all visitors and pilgrims who pass through there on the Caminho de Santiago (Santiago Path), a statue was erected in honor of D.Teresa de Leão for having established the municipality and regulation of its administration, duties and privileges over the village of Ponte de Lima.

The statue is surrounded by important buildings such as the Town Hall, the beautiful da Garrida house and the Military History Interpretation Center (a building for which I reserved an exclusive article).
I was quite pleased with what i found when visiting this place, the way in which history is preserved in perfect communion with the inevitable development of time.

The journey is still halfway through, but today I'll stop here.
In the following article we will visit the interior of the Military History Interpretation Center, don't miss it :)

I hope you enjoyed

Photo by @aleister
Camera - Canon EOS 600D
Lens - EFS 18-55mm / 70-300mm
Location - Portugal

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Always remember:

Value your time, because every fraction counts, and the price of anything is the amount of life you trade for it.
May the memories of the travels be eternalized in the photographs, and may the photographs transport us back to the travels ;)