Cascais - "Little Stone" of Portugal

Cascais is a wonderful city of Portugal located 30 minutes driving from Lisbon. So you may get there by taxi only for 20 euros. As it is one of the main resorts of the sunny coast (Portuguese Riviera), you may bathe there, the city has all resort attributes: beaches (windsurfing), restaurants, clubs, the embankment at the foot of the citadel, churches, chapels. But probably the main thing located there is a wonderful museum of an artist Paula Rego.

By the way, the name "Cascais" is originated from the word "cascale" - "little stone".

In the Old city of Cascais you may see a very beautiful palace - Palacio de Conde de Castro Guimarres that is open for visitors. Here is a good collection of books - 25 thousand editions. The exposition of the Sea museum tells about the history of the city and local fishing traditions. Historic and architectural wealth of Cascais are churches of XV-XVIII centuries and the old St. Jorge castle located on the high hill over the city. 

Near Cascais is La boca do inferno cliff ("the underworld mouth"). It's a natural grotto made by waves breaking against the rocks.

This is what local police use for transportation.

But the most notable sight is Casa das Histórias Paula Rego – the museum of an artist Paula Rego built under the project of an architect Eduardo Souta de Moura in 2009. Its appearance is the modern interpretation of historically formed local architectural style. Unfortunately, guide-books don't give information about this interesting complex.

All the complex consists of four buildings. The walls of exhibition spaces are covered with light plaster, the floor is of grey marble quarried not far from Cascais. Besides, in the museum there is an audience hall for 200 people.

Admission free but photoshooting is forbidden.

Rego is considered to be the prominent Portuguese artist of the modern time. She chose herself an architect for "The House of Stories" (that is the official name of the museum). Probably it was important for her to set off her emotionally fullfilled art works with the modest color of Souta de Moura's architecture. 

Natural stone used in the decoration of the exhibition spaces helps to keep the optimal temperature.


Unfortunately, there is not much interesting inside.


But from outside the complex is very interesting.





via zyalt