As an wildlife and nature artist, I'm always looking for inspiration from the world around me. Recently, I stumbled upon a beautiful Portuguese village made entirely of shale and knew I had to capture its beauty on canvas. The village is known as Foz d'Égua, and it's a hidden gem nestled among lush greenery and trees.

Using acrylic paints, I spent several days carefully crafting each house and adding intricate details to bring them to life. I chose to focus on an exceptionally beautiful spot, on a few houses that sit on a hill among lush greenery and trees. All the houses are made of shale, a type of sedimentary rock common in Portugal. I wanted to capture the unique beauty of this location, and I'm very happy with the result.

In the foreground of the painting, two very old bridges, also made of shale, are depicted. This is where the streams from the adjacent villages converge, Piódão and Chãs de Égua, with each bridge having a different flow.

However, the bridge on the left collapsed in a flood in 2006 and was reconstructed. They span the beautiful river beach with crystal-clear waters from the streams, which resulted from the construction of a dam in 1997. I tried to capture the beauty of the surrounding nature, including vibrant vegetation and trees that surround the village, giving it a truly paradisaical appearance.

The houses before the reconstruction and the dam. Courtesy KIDOCI 

The river beach only gained popularity when Mr. Carlos Borges acquired these shale houses and reconstructed them, preserving the architecture and the typical material of the village. The two houses served as a shelter for animals and for a mill that also exists there.

In addition to the reconstruction of the houses, Mr. Carlos Borges built a chapel, planted endemic plants, and constructed a suspension bridge that connects both banks of the Chãs de Égua stream.

In 2013, while he was installing new cables to create a second suspension bridge, Mr. Carlos Borges had a fall in the ravine, resulting in his passing. Since then, his family has only been performing maintenance at the site.

Mr. Carlos Borges and his wife Cibele. Courtesy Rouxinol de Pomares

This painting was a labor of love, and I'm proud of the final result. I hope it can bring joy and inspiration to those who see it. Whether you're a lover of art, history, or architecture, I believe this painting has something for everyone.

Overall, this project was a wonderful experience, and I can't wait to start on my next painting adventure. I hope you'll take a moment to let me know what you think of the Portuguese historical village painting. Thank you for your support and appreciation for art!