Paço dos Condes de Barcelos - Archaeological Museum | Portugal

Hello Everyone :)

Continuing the previous articles, where I have been describing a brief visit to the city of Barcelos, during a beautiful December afternoon (beautiful but very cold), the sun shone over our heads as we headed to explore the Paço dos Condes de Barcelos - Archaeological Museum. This was one of the first places we visited, being located at the entrance to the city, just after crossing the bridge over the Cávado River, we noticed in the distance that imposing space, where the visible ruins of the old Palace of the Counts of Barcelos told us stories about the medieval times of the city.

Those huge stone blocks, fragments of a 15th century building, tell the grand story of the eighth Count of Barcelos, D. Afonso, and the first Duke of Bragança. The dazzling architecture, in the distant past, demonstrated the power and wealth of an illegitimate son of King D. João I. The tall tube-shaped chimneys, now in ruins, and the tower, once guardian of the bridge over the river, recalled to lost but still enchanting splendor.

As we walked through the space, it became clear how that palace-castle, once the former residence of the Counts, had witnessed the centuries and their transformations. Its ruin that began in the 17th century, worsened by the 1755 earthquake, left traces that became perfect for today's open-air Archaeological Museum.

We can observe revealing archaeological pieces, architectural fragments of dismantled churches and convents, heraldic symbols and medieval sarcophagi that captivated attention, recounting the vivid history of those people.
One of the sarcophagi was transformed into a bench where our girl sat. After resting a little, we asked her if she was comfortable, to which she replied yes. We explained where she was sitting. Needless to say, she burst out laughing, got up and didn't sit down again.

Among all the relics, the Cruzeiro do Senhor do Galo, from Barcelinhos, allows you to observe and learn the ancient legend that became the city's emblem. It was as if each piece rescued from the past whispered its own narratives, revealing the cultural and religious heritage that shaped that place over the centuries.
As the sun gently set over the horizon, the Christmas lights began to twinkle, transforming the atmosphere. The ruins of Paço dos Condes gained a new aura, a magnificent beauty highlighted by the festive decoration.

I left that place with a heart full of stories intertwined with Barcelos' rich heritage. It was a charming afternoon, immersed in history, where every stone, every fragment, told a chapter of the life of that enchanting city.
That´s all for today :)

Photo by @aleister
Camera - Samsung SM-A528B
Camera - Canon EOS 600D
Lens - EFS 18-55mm / 70-300mm
Location - Portugal

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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 ;)