Camera Etrusca is starting a new programme of photo workshops in Lisbon and the Coast in spring and autumn – the best times of the year for photographers to tour Portugal and enjoy the Atlantic coast’s dazzling light and warm climate, the buzzing atmosphere in Lisbon, and the unrivalled air of mystery and decadence among the eccentric palaces and the gardens of Sintra.

Spring and autumn workshops in Portugal: Lisbon

Modern engineering and architecture in Lisbon: MAAT modern art gallery and Almada Bridge

Lisbon is one of the truly buzzing places in Europe. Camera Etrusca will run workshops in Portugal in May, and November 2018 with 3 nights in Lisbon and 3 in the Algarve.

Discoveries Monument, Lisbon

Lisbon is best known for its delicately melancholic Fado music, its old fashioned trams running up and down its seven hills and its brilliant predominantly blue azulejo tiles which cover its buildings inside and out.

Azulejo ceramic facade in Alfama, Lisbon

It is a city of superlatives: it has the most stunning light for a good part of the year, in fact it is the sunniest capital in Europe with 2,799 hours of sunshine a year (Rome has 2,516, London half of Lisbon’s at 1,460); it is the most Western city of Europe as well as being the oldest, predating even Rome.

Tram in Bica street, the sea in the distance.

The city is a street photographer’s delight with scores of old fashioned cafés to drop in on and spend hours with just a coffee or a glass of port with no stroppy waiters to hustle you from your table.

The charming, and sexy, Pensao Amor Cafè, Lisbon

The doyen of the strolling flâneur, writer and poet Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) practically lived in cafés using them as office, writer’s den and meeting place; there are cafés to suit every taste in Lisbon: the Turkish bordello style of Pensao Amor in downtown Chiado popular with young foreigners; the famous Brasileira, Pessoa’s favourite; the Versailles frequented by locals and many more.

Street cafe at Miradouro S.Catarina overlooking the Tagus

Patrick and Pessoa

Of late Lisbon has drawn to its urban heart creative young people from all over Europe and North America, hence the arts scene is flourishing especially in the Alcantara district around the LX Factory.

Sintra

Sintra with its own micro-climate was favoured by the Lisbon aristocracy as a summer residence. The palaces they built in a bizarre variety of styles are truly fantastic.

15th century Sintra Royal Palace with curious twin chimneys

The delights of Sintra are a mere 40 minutes by suburban train from central Lisbon.

Foggy Sintra

The micro climate of Sintra makes it an especially interesting place from the photographer’s point of view. Its vicinity to the sea and the fact that the gardens and eccentric palaces are nestled into clefts in the valley leads to foggy mornings and evenings lending an unrivalled air of mystery.

Entrance to the alchemical well in the Regaleira Palace garden.

There are no end of architectural oddities in Sintra from the arabesque

Arabesque pavilion in Sintra

to gothic

above: The Neo-gothic Quinta da Regaleira palace

The coast near Sintra north of  Lisbon. The Atlantic coast of Portugal is dramatic especially at night.

The Algarve  (November only)

Algarve: above the Benagil caves

The Algarve has a dazzling light and a divine, almost African climate. The sea is warm and swimmable until December. Benagil is known for its limestone cliffs, caves and blue grottoes, many of which may only be reached by boat.

Sea cave in Benagil. The figure, left, gives an idea of the size.

Camera Etrusca runs Lisbon and the Coast workshops in May and November.

Camera Etrusca Photo Workshops  in Lisbon and the Coast start Friday May 25 and Friday November 2

The May 25th workshop is in the Lisbon and Sintra  area only. (We go to the Algarve as well only in November.)

You can choose:

• 3 night workshop finishes Monday at noon,
• 6 night workshop finishes back in Lisbon Thursday at noon.

We recommend you arrive in Lisbon Thursday evening so we can start Friday morning. You should arrange your own accommodation in Lisbon.

The November 2nd workshop is in Lisbon, Sintra and the Algarve. We leave for the Algarve Sunday evening.

You can choose:

• 3 night workshop finishes Sunday evening in Lisbon,
• 6 night workshop finishes back in Lisbon on Thursday at noon.

Fill the form below for more info and booking.

The post Photo Workshops in Lisbon and the Coast. Start dates: May 25 and November 2. appeared first on Camera Etrusca Photography Holidays & Workshops in Italy.