The Azulejos of Pinhão Railway Station

I’ve written before about azulejos (Portuguese ceramic tiles) at train stations along the Douro Valley and in the gateway city of Peso da Régua, but the most emblematic of them all was conspicuously missing from that post: Pinhão Train Station.

Pinhão is widely regarded as the heart of the Douro Valley, and whether arrival is by car, rail, or boat, the town warrants a longer stop to appreciate the artistry of the tile work on the exterior of the station. The blue, white, and yellow decorative tiles (manufactured in Aveiro) transform the station into a public museum, displaying panoramic scenes of the wine harvest in its various stages. This was a hands-on time, before mechanization, when the local economy and culture were more closely linked to wine production. Life in the Douro Valley still revolves around wine, but I would venture to say these days involve less toil and more consumption.

To see the photos in a larger size, click on the slideshow to open the album or view the whole album here in a new window. For more azulejos photos, see my Pinterest board or the azulejos tag for more posts.

Pinhão Railway Station (Douro Valley, Portugal)

June 6, 2015
Album: Douro Valley + Penela da Beira [June 2015]

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