As you head west along College St the street starts to change from an Italian flavour to a Portuguese one and this typically Portuguese mural at Crawford St is a good indication of that changeover. It was installed in 1988 on the side of a building which was at the time a Portuguese community centre but which became a night club years ago. There is still a Portuguese presence with a dance club in the lower level and a few Portuguese offices but most of the building is now "The Mod Club". The tiles are still in pretty good shape after all these years!
Portugueses have a straight connection with the ocean.
ReplyDeleteHope this tile mural lasts many decades. ;-)
Can't read the text, but it's a good bet one of those figures pictured is meant to be Henry the Navigator.
ReplyDeleteThe Portuguese have produced some magnificent facades with their wonderful tile over the years. This is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love those Portuguese style tiles. Glad these are still intact!
ReplyDeletePortuguese tiles are wonderful but even beter is portuguese wine, ( a well kept secret)
ReplyDeleteWow, wonderful tile.
ReplyDeleteThe Portuguese tile work is the best in the world.
ReplyDeleteLove the tiles in blue and white.
ReplyDeleteThose are lovely.
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ReplyDeleteGreat find Red, love the blue and white typically Portuguese tiles. Very dramatic and adventurous scenes.
ReplyDeleteThese tiles are wonderful, their detail draws you in.
ReplyDeleteGreat posts of Little Italy and Portugal.
ReplyDeleteIt's Luís de Camões and scenes from his masterpice, The Lusiads, an epic poem written in the Homeric fashion, actually a fantastic interpretation of the Portuguese voyages of discovery during the 15th and 16th centuries.
ReplyDeleteAnd, RedPat, tiles can last for centuries in relatively good shape. :-)
These tiles were the fruit of my father's passion for his homeland. Antonio Alves worked long hours/years planting the seed to have this dream become a reality. He kept sharing his vision and then began the long hard work of getting support. He managed to get enought financial support to have this tile mural made and shipped from Portugal and to have the statue of Camoes that used to be inside the First Portuguese Canadian Club be brought outside for all to see. A simple desiel truck mechanic from Portugal and big dream and love for home turns 80 this month - Happy Birthday dad and thanks for all your hard work!
ReplyDeleteGA