Imaging Portugal 004: Pergola da Foz Columns, Porto

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

004: Pergola da Foz columns

When you visit the Foz do Douro, the mouth of the Douro River in Porto, it is hard to miss one of the landmarks at the Foz: Pergola do Douro. This so-called balaustrada – balustrade in English – was constructed in 1930 by António Enes Baganha, as part of improvements along Avenida do Brasil. The construction was ordered by Agusto Sosa Rosa, head of the city council at that time. According to a grandson, it was Augusto’s wife that obtained inspiration of this pergola during one of her travels. Unflortunately, the location of this original structure is unknown. Due to the salty environment, the pergola’s reinforced concrete columns showed significant erosion with time. In 2008, the entire structure was restored by the city. Because of the location parallel to the Atlantic Ocean coast, the pergola is a very popular location to witness sunsets.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1999, 2001, 2003, 2017

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Imaging Portugal 003: Fisherman in Boat, Porto

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

003: Fisherman in his boat

The almost nine hundred km-long Douro river is  the third largest on the Iberian Peninsula. The Douro Valley is famous for its vineyards, and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site List, as well as the Historic Center of Porto is. The valley provide excellent conditions for the cultivation of almonds, olives, and especially grapes. The grapes are essential for the world famous Port wines, which are stored and traded in Vila Nova de Gaia, that is located at the margin of the Douro River, opposite to the city of Porto. Not only wine production is important in Porto. Along the Douro River, there are many small and somewhat larger fishing boats. The fisherman in the picture is checking his fishing rod and nets. The name of his boat is not very surprising: ‘Douro’.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1999, 2001, 2003, 2017

Imaging Portugal 002: Fisherman Couple, Porto

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

002: Fisherman couple

When I was in Porto at the turn of the millennium, it was not hard to reach the mouth of the Douro River, which meets the Atlantic Ocean:: Foz do Douro. There was an electrical tram that went until several hundred meters from the Atlantic coast. I was accompanied by a friend, and we walked for some time on the quays along the river. We observed some local people, mostly families of fishermen, who were enjoying their leisure time with playing chess, chatting, or just staring at the river. Some fishermen were watching their fishing rods, others were active with their boats, fishing gear, or with cleaning and repairing the nets. It was November, sunny and quite warm, compared to normal autumn temperatures. The sun was shining faintly.  In the picture is an older couple who sat on the quays; they were apparently watching the river mouth in front of them.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1999, 2001, 2003, 2017

Imaging Portugal 001: Fisherman Watching Fishing Rods, Porto

A personal selection of photographs with their stories.

001: Watching the fishing rods

Portugal has become one of my favorite visiting countries after my visits in the autumns of 1999, 2001, and 2003. I stayed in Porto, and from there I traveled to nearby and further locations, including Lisbon, Sintra, Coimbra, Aveiro, Viana do Castelo, among others. When I was in Porto, there was much to see and to visit. I have walked many hours in downtown, where I have enjoyed very much the historic buildings that transpire their past. The century-old thick walls, the façades tiled with beautifully painted blue-and-white tiles, the azuleijos. I also have walked along the Douro River, where I was observing the daily routines of local fishermen. The fisherman in the picture was keeping an expert eye on no less than five fishing rods.

© Adriano Antoine Robbesom 1999, 2001, 2003, 2017