Portuguese Architecture is Walter Crum Watson’s survey of the building traditions of Portugal, a subject little treated in English at the time of writing. Watson traces the development of Portuguese architecture from the medieval period through the elaborate Manueline style of the age of discoveries to the classical and Baroque work of later centuries.
He gives particular attention to the great monasteries, churches, and monuments such as the abbey of Batalha and the tower of Belém, describing their distinctive ornament and their place in the nation’s history. Drawing on first-hand observation, Watson introduces English readers to a tradition shaped by Gothic, Moorish, and maritime influences. The book remains a useful and appreciative guide to the architecture of Portugal.