Architecture
Portugal's architecture differs greatly according to climatic conditions and locally available
building materials.

Central Portugal, having quite a mild climate, the older houses are
built of the local granite from the mountains (which has been hewn into massive blocks).
The walls are often between 60cm and 90cm thick ! (see photo above right)
Slate is also widely used in this area, laid horizontally in many layers. (see photo left and
click to see the layers) These houses are quite a work of art and in the Serra de Acor in
Central Portugal, there is an amazing village called Piodao, (allegedly the most authentic
Portuguese village) is built entirely of slate.
Modern housing is built of fire baked open vented bricks. These houses are usually quite 
big and either plastered or covered in the typically Portuguese colourful and ornately
designed tiles. Also , being religious, one can often find statues built into niches in the
walls. Some of these even light up at night.
Almost every house even the modern ones, still has the "lojas" on the  ground floor. This
word means "shop" but in this sense it means "store", as this where they store all the
produce they have grown, as well as their olive oil and wine in barrels and bottles etc.

The living space is on the first floor and is traditionally designed as a long passage down
the centre with rooms on each side.

Portuguese people are very proud of  their meticulously cleaned homes. The women
spend their time split between working on the land and household chores. Very often a
house will have 2 kitchens - one an everyday "living" kitchen and the other for show.
In the lounge, which is kept only for visitors I have once found 10 vases filled with
plastic flowers.
Click to see the slate


Languages spoken: English / Portuguese / Dutch

A personal experience