October 1495, Lisbon, Alfama Noble District, Portugal.
At the end of the 15th century, the Alfama Noble District was the ancient heart of Lisbon, gathering most of the kingdom's nobility, and having been passed down from the Moorish era to the present. The narrow cobblestone streets resembled winding streams, undulating with the terrain, polished bright by the footsteps of countless generations. The white lime walls left by the Moors were covered with vibrant grapevines. The linen drying by the windows swayed gently in the breeze, casting a shadow of prosperity and purity.
The highest point of the entire Alfama District is the Lisbon Cathedral. This 12th-century Romanesque fortress church stands at the center of the district, its rugged towers overlooking the city like guardians. The clergy's morning prayers sang Gregorian chants, and the bells startled a flock of pigeons that swept over the rose window of Saint Anthony Church.
