Azores, Ponta Delgada - down town - The 9th of December 2013

(...)

Because Museums were closed on Monday and I was "running out" of churches to visit there wasn't much more I could do apart from just wandering about. I had never before walked in down-town Ponta Delgada in the rain and that in itself proved to be a challenge.

As I was strolling amidst the typical Azorean islands ' architecture and beautifully tended public gardens along the coastline, more precisely in Travessa do Arco I came across a rather interesting painting on a wall ... the fragility of the paper boat made me think of myself there and then ...

Not much farther along towards the inner back streets, the gloomy half painted face of an old man on a wall caught my attention  and made me think of yet another fragility ... old age and loneliness.

(To be continued)

Azores, Ponta Delgada - The Church of All Saints and the Church of São Pedro - The 9th of December 2013

(...)

I walked up to the Colégio Convent also known as the Church of All Saints, a religious sanctuary constructed during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries with a symmetric façade which included an incomplete clock tower, which I personally found to give it a certain graciousness. 

The iconic pilasters and cornices with porthole-like windows embellished by decorative elements in the shape of garlands and shells made it a rather unique type of façade.  It now houses the Museum of Sacred Art, which was closed because of being Monday.

I then decided then to head towards the sixteenth century Church of São Pedro, which seen from the outside looked just like any other Church, but the moment I walked in I was invaded by a golden light that was impossible to ignore as it not only enhanced the painted ceiling but also the gold covered altars and many of the religious figures.

(To be continued)

Azores, Ponta Delgada -The Fort of São Bras, the Municipal City Hall, the Gates of the city and the Church of São Sebastião - The 9th of December 2013

(...)

Although it was still raining as I walked out of the Church of São José it was in no way as bad as it had been earlier, so I decided to continue walking into the centre of the city.

Just across the road from the church the Fort of São Bras said to have been built in 1552 to protect the island against the privateers' invasions.

A little bit farther on the Municipal City Hall with its Bell Tower and the statue of the archangel Michael, the patron Saint of the island of São Miguel proudly standing in front of it.

The  eighteenth century Gates of the city could be seen on the main square between the Municipal City Hall and the Church of São Sebastião. Being the ex libris of the city several Portuguese Kings and other important figures are said to have walked under them.

The whole surrounding atmosphere looked grey and for no apparent reason I seemed to feel alike. Rain kept on falling and despite having got used to it by then I decided to look for shelter in the majestic church of São Sebastião trusting there would be some comfort.

It was undeniably imposing on the outside with its mingled Gothic Manueline style but the greatest surprise came as I walked in. Photos were once more not allowed which I felt was a real pity because no words will ever be able to describe its interior decorated altar pieces and overall richness.

I came across several pilgrim like worshippers soaked to the bones and wearing sandals. It didn't take long to realise that they were coming form a cruising ship at berth and like myself were looking for a temporary tourist shelter.

(To be continued)

Azores, Ponta Delgada - The Church of São José -The 9th of December 2013

I landed at Ponta Delgada Airport very early in the morning and having had to wait for another ten hours before boarding a flight to Santa Maria I decided to walk into the city, not having realised that the sky was overclouded and if it were to start raining I wouldn't have anywhere to shelter myself under.

That's exactly what happened as ten minutes into my walking it started pouring down with rain and the umbrella on its own wasn't enough to protect me. I was totally wet the moment I walked into the Church of São José thirty minutes later.

I was determined not to let the incident affect my whole day and despite being uncomfortable and having to withstand the situation until late in the evening I started photographing what mostly attracted me as far as religious Art is concerned.

I couldn't help looking at and soon after walking into a side chapel located on the right, which was covered in eighteenth century glazed tiles. Preceded by a vaulted yard it almost inevitably caught anyone's attention. Some of the lower corner tiles depicted angels holding framed torturing utensils. 

The main altar was outstandingly beautiful and worth looking at but so were the ones on both sides of the three nave church, said to have been constructed in 1709 on a site formerly occupied by a sixteenth century temple. It used to pertain to a Convent of Franciscans having then been named Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição.

The ceilings were hand painted and despite the fact that the church was not illuminated and looked rather sombre making it difficult to work out some of the details I had the feeling that those had been meticulously painted.

Some sculpted religious figures as well as religious representations were also worth being looked at because of the uniqueness of the facial expressions and the overall approach to the various themes.

I soon realised to which extent I had been fortunate to have wandered about on my own because not only had the church door been just opened to let someone in (the person in charge of the church sacristy) but photos were also not allowed, I was told.

As I was "escorted" to the outside stairs leading to the street I was discreetly told to look at a small chapel on the left and allowed by the person, who had previously informed me that photos were forbidden, to take one last photograph.

(To be continued)