Baralha Fortress Monastery
The Memory of Monk 2020
Walking on the pedestrian path in Cape Espichel, I reach the top of São Domingos da Baralha fortress. A modest architecture coexists with the ruins. To the left of the dilapidated arch, there is a concrete ramp leading to the first look-out point. While the thick wall is getting higher, I feel sunken into the ground. A bench is right designed to sit down for the gaze at the first light from the sea.
Before going down to the monastery area, there is a small sign in the space, where the rocks come through the concrete, to separate the people who just visit. I feel serene when I go down to the dining area. A wood frame of the sliding door just captures the view of the powerful natural scenery to emphasize the landscape of the Atlantic coastline. If you go closer, you can feel the ruins up out there.
The space of the kitchen, storage cabinets and cells of the dormitory are for four people. There are also shared bathrooms on the opposite of the aisle. To the end, there is a meeting area with a similar view from the look-out point face the cliff.
Back upstairs, a narrow long ramp tunnel is built under the ground leading to the inner space surrounded by concrete walls to feel the intimacy of the space. The only opening is where the skylight comes through and changes as the time pass away.
After the inner space and out of the towering cliffs, you can find another exit to the lower part of the fortress ruin, here is another sight of the expansive ocean views. Baralha Fortress Monastery incorporates with the remains, create a new experiencing route to the second look-out point, where Chã dos Navegantes could be seen.
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