Yellow, Blue and Manganese

Many of our markets and train stations are decorated with tile panels dating from the early 20th century, a time of great expansion through naturalist painting with frames imitating the Rococo style in a harmonious set of shells, cornucopias, arches, leaves and flowers in shades of yellow, blue and sometimes also manganese, which represent the historicist and nationalist taste of the Portuguese people.

Being from Ribatejo, I could not fail to mention one of the most emblematic ones, whoever visits does not forget the Santarém station and market. Both buildings are decorated with beautiful panels alluding to the province of Ribatejo where they portray some historical landmarks of the city and some of the main work and leisure activities of the century XX in the county.

Bearing in mind the monuments represented, the chosen activities, the care in placing them, and the corners obey a sequential order, I dare say that the decoration of both buildings, in a way, is a privileged means of advertising tourism and regional promotion.

It is difficult to choose what to say what I like best, because in reality I like everyone, but I don't know why I like to stop in front of the Torre das Cabaças, the old clock tower, the D. Luís I Bridge, the Vale Lobos farm and the emblematic figure of Campino.

I feel that I would lose myself in the history of these and the others, but I will not do so, I choose to invite you to visit the beautiful city of the Ribatejo plateau, Santarém, and stop in front of the Market or the station, let yourself be carried away by the curiosity of history and then walk through its streets and identify each location depicted on each of the panels.