Empedrada is underfoot in Portugal

Empedrada is a particular kind of square cobblestone surface that is found all over Portugal. The material tends to be a uniform pale color and it covers lots of sidewalk and many public plazas, private patios and even streets. Contrasting designs are made with black stone, and very rarely colors. There are some typical patterns such as crosswalks, and there are some very appealing decorative designs, all very durable. These pictures go from the simple to the complex, so if you watch for a minute you’ll get to the octopus and sailing ship!

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