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Casa dos Bicos


Its facade is covered in diamond-shaped stones, and if there is another example of 16th century secular architecture in Lisbon I am not aware of it. The House of Pointed Stones ― also known as the Casa dos Diamantes (diamonds) ― once stood on the bank of the Tagus and was intended to impress traders arriving with silks and spices from the Orient. 


It now stands 200 meters from the waterfront (the passing of time has rerouted the river) and is some kind of cultural center. I have seen similar pointy structures in Italy, built in the same period. 

Near the Casa dos Bicos is the Church of Conceicao Velha, built on the site of an old synagogue. The history books say it was beautiful, but the earthquake took it from us, leaving only this south portal. 






I walk by it every day and always stop to admire its intricately carved archivolt and the vertical thing supporting it. (Thanks, Google. It's a trumeau.)




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