The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-08
one Of HISTORIC
SPOTS N PORTUGAL
Visit to Citania and Its Sur
ROUNDING Interests.
WHERE BEAUTY AB0UN0S
Profitable Time in One of the
Oldest Cities.
WHERE BEAUTY ABOUNDS

| ern part OF Portugal Hes 4 GtstTlCt Colle1
"Eentre Douro Mimic" from its posi-
| ton between these two historic rivers;
it is not only one OF the most interesting
| regions OF the country. but IN many ways
the most beautiful. Between the natural
| richness OF its soil and the industry Of its
thrifty peasant population. the valleys
and small plains are literally gardens Il
greenery in early summer, with perfect
| shelter and background of heavily wooded
hin-slopes, dotted with towns. churches.
and often shrines. Unfortunately. railway
communications are slow and uEcomfort-
able-even for Portugal: but the inns
which have the double quality OF good
ness and cheapness, might well induct a
traveller with enefgies stin unexhausted
| by the conventional. Yet undesirably much
greater. attractions Of Alcobaoa. Batalne.
and Thomar Jail lying far 10 the south.
90 pause before rushing at Pampilhosa
into the sud Express for Paris With
| the conviction. defensible IL is true that
the sights OF the country have done
This conpa ratire rencteneSs preserves
to Northern Portugal It's singulariy ua-
spoiled characteristic peasant life. fun II
| color and movement, the only approach
to which in Western Europe is possibiy
10 be found in Sardinia. To the archse
ologist and student Of bygone civilizations
| the whole region offers. moreover, a very
peculiar interest directly from the above
mentioned union of fertile stretches with
| hilly Businesses, of which the early Ceit-
Iberian inhabitants awaited themselves in
| the construction OF towns, now entirely
| ruined. but still perfectly traeeable CT
| several SUBMITS OF no great elevation.
! The most important as well as the best
known OF these goes by the generic name
| Of Citania.
The ruins OF Citania and it's immediate
neighbor. Sabroso. are situated about mid
way between the two important towns OF
Braga and Guimaraes, these last two con-
| nected by a truly superb highrod In ex-
/ cellent repair, and for the most part so
embowered in yine-swatched trees In sur.i-
mer that the way suggests an avenue TN
| a noble park decked out for some festal
| occasion. OF the many lovely drives Ina
this district, or indeed in Portugal. none
| appeared comparable TO this for sustained
/ finished quiet beauty The short days
excursion is accomplished is roomy two
| horse landau or travelling carriage for the
| very moderate price of six thousand refs,
| which, in the present deprecated conci-
| ton Of Portuguese money. may stand
| about four dollars and a half. Add 70
this the sight of Braga and Guimaraes,
/ quaint with curving streets and balco1'ed
| domestic architecture so different from
| the tamely successive white walls and red
/ tiles of the south. and one IS more than
repaid for the exasperating experience of
| the crawling Bummelzag.
The midway halt Of Caldas das Taipas.
a local health resort. embedded in lus-
cious foliage. is the starting point for
Citania. at the neighborhood OF which
one arrives by fair country read leading
| TO the hamlet of Briteiros, commanded
| by the small dome shaped eminence on
which the ruins stand
/ From the tiny hamlet OF Britieros al
the foot Of the hill that bulks steadily
larger as We spin along the country road
| from Caldas. bordered with matched
stone cottages and weIl-tilled fields, two
approaches TO the top. The easier. cir
cuitous path. preferable on all accounts.
discloses the intelligent purpose that
/ guided the selection II the site and the
| construction Of tho massive fortihcauon9
| guarding the approach from the less &C.
| feasible quarter. for after compara
/ lively easy ascent OF twenty-five minufss
| along the doughish footpath. a sudden
4 turn brings one face 10 face with the
remains OF a tOlerably preserved guard
wall constructed on the very spot wheFe
a coup de main from the valley below
might have carried the whole eTninence.
Here. the hIlI shows rather as q pro
rnoutory than a detached height. It's weak
eet point blocked By the aforementioned
! well about a yard in the thickness and
| probably between twelve and niteen fet'
high in its original state. Like the othef
/ constructions OF the town. this Is com
| rosed OF smooth-faced blocks u stone
Of UNEQUAL sizes. 80 htted together. with
out cement. IS 70 present the appear
ance Of carefully built masonry; the
| cleavage Of the strata Is 50 clean that
| s+onec,,tter= must have had little NOR
,ha, anishing 70 do From about this
/ -, tho Whole crcs; or the Hill Is tray-
cred In its length By narrow paTcd
| street. long protected BY the rubbish only
! ,scentiv cleared away. for its pavlnss
! stones show some signs II vsar but oniF
| -,,cb "a rnfeh. have been made hy h1ln-c n
! seat not bv beasts Of burden ca fitntr
| .t5e ~ his narrow roadway arc remains
~ ~ walls a. the usual construction -
| "a. Iooaiitv fhs original height % which
"a, only b. gsIesscd 81 hecause n the
( ze,-se4affosl which has left Dut tn@i
s,.,r.us standing: che or tao cossrsss alone
r.-,sf, steapi1E over these. We ald
s-at.er.d about the plstezu clusters a
foundations q blildiags. some circslir
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20 great eEort n recognize ss haFias
oa~e served TIE purpoees = TIE e2rlT
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