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A JOURNEY TO
THE BAROQUE WITH
THE LUSITANO
H O R S E
THE FIGURES
Work in hand – used for teaching Ares Altos (airs above
the ground). The preparatory exercise is the piaffe which
involves the horse trotting on the spot with a high
action of the legs. The exercises also include the capriole,
in which the horse leaps upwards with a vertical kick
of its hind legs, remaining momentarily in the air,
reminding one of a winged horse; the levade, in which
the horse rears up on its hind legs gracefully bending
its forelegs in the classic posture of many equestrian
statues; the courbette in which the horse jumps
forwards on its hind legs from the levade position;
finally, the piaffer nos pilões (piaffe on the pillars). The
old riding masters used the pilões (poles with two rings
in the centre of the arena, between which the horse
was held) in order to increase the horse’s concentration.
LONG REIGNS
Through training, the horse becomes docile and
acquires a slow gait which allows it to be lead at a walk.
Indications from the reigns and the crop are sufficient
for the Lusitano to perform the most difficult dressage
exercises when mounted.
SOLO
Presentation of a mounted horse with three gaits –
walking, trotting, cantering
ARES ALTOS
The exercises which were carried out in hand are now
performed on a mounted horse. The ares altos are the
climax of the art of Baroque horsemanship.
PAS-DE-TROIS
Demonstration by three riders of the various
movements and figures in the three gaits.
QUADRILLE
A group of eight to ten riders perform a kind of
equestrian ballet in perfect synchronisation, enthralling
the audience who often clap in time to the rhythm of
the movements.
Display of Equestrian Art
Portuguese School of Equestrian
Art
Queluz National Palace
For more information:
www.cavalonet.com/epae
From May to October
Displays every Wednesday at
11h00
Tickets: 9 euros, 50 percent
discount for the over 65’s, free for
children up to the age of 8.
Training, during the whole year,
from Mondays to Fridays, from
09h30 to 13h00, at the Queluz
National Palace Gardens, entrance
free.
Begin your walk at the Estrela Gardens (Jardim da Estrela) (1) with their wrought iron
bandstand: Buses: 9, 27; Trams: 25, 28. Facing the gardens is the Estrela Basilica (Basílica
da Estrela) (2), in late baroque and neo-classical style. The four columns on the façade
are topped with statues representing Faith, Devotion, Gratitude and Generosity. The
relief behind is thought to be the work of Portugal’s foremost 18th cent. sculptor,
Machado de Castro. Take the streets Domingos Sequeira and Saraiva de Carvalho to
the square Praça São João Bosco and the Prazeres Cemetery (Cemitério dos Prazeres)
(3) and then, taking Rua Possidónio da Silva, go on to Tapada das Necessidades (4)
to see its excellent cactus gardens. Nearby is the Necessidades Palace (5), built in
the 18th cent. and now home to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From the square in
front (6) you can pick out the 25 of April bridge, inaugurated in 1966, and the Christ
the King monument on the other side of the river. Note the bronze cross on a thorned
sphere in the 1747 fountain, and an obelisk in pink marble. Now go down Calçada
WALKS
do Sacramento leading to the Alcântara quarter (7) and Praça da Armada (8), where
there are a number of good, low-priced restaurants and taverns. Continue your walk
along Calçada da Pampulha to Rua das Janelas Verdes: on one side is the Dr. José
Figueiredo square (9) with its great fountain, and on the other the National Museum
of Art (10). From the gardens (Jardim 9 de Abril) (11) beside it there are views over
the river and the Port of Lisbon. Overlooking the gardens is the Red Cross Palace,
the stairs leading of the gardens will take you down to Av. 24 de Julho. Cross the
avenue and the railway line alongside it then turn right on to Av. Brasília and follow
it to the Alcântara Dock (12) where you’ll find the Maritime Terminal (13) with its
great mural panels by the Portuguese modernist painter Almada Negreiros. Walk
through the bustling, cosmopolitan Santo Amaro Dock (14), packed with riverside
café terraces, bars and discos. Buses 14, 32, 43, 28 will take you back to the center.
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