![\"\"](\"http:\/\/skipvia.com\/Portugal18\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/E68C8B93-F325-4ABC-A00B-AFA7049DB47E.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/a><\/a>Our initial exploration took us to the magnificent Igleja do S\u00e3o Roque, a 16th century Jesuit church dedicated to the saint who protected Portuguese sailors. The main chapel is stunning in and of itself, but the\u00a0Capela de S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o Baptista is especially compelling. It it made of precious stones (lapis lazuli), matched marble tiles, lots of gold, and extraordinarily detailed mosaics that can easily be mistaken for paintings on the walls and floor. It was disassembled from the Vatican and reassembled here. Photos don\u2019t really do it justice. (Click to enlarge.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\")
<\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/a><\/figure><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nAnd of course, there are tiles. Lots and lots of tiles. More on that later. First full day of exploration begins tomorrow. (Click to enlarge.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Scott and Cathy dropped us off at the bus station in Lagos for a pleasant three hour trip to Lisboa, our final destination in Portugal. We checked into Feeling Chiado, and old hotel built in the 1700s complete with wide … Continue reading