Today we went to Portmeirion an Italian styled village designed and built by Sir Clough William-Ellis between 1925 and 1975.
According to the official Portmeirion website it "was built to show how you could develop a naturally beautiful setting without spoiling and with sufficient skill and care and architectural good manners can actually enhance the natural environment".
"Cherish the Past
Adorn the Present
Construct for the Future"
said Clough William-Ellis
The weather was very mixed during our visit - rain when we arrived followed by an hour of sunshine when I tried to take most of the photos! and then sunshine and showers.
Portmeirion, of course, was The Village in the famous 1960's televison series - The Prisoner. I have to admit we are huge fans of this series and over the years have visited Portmeirion many times - one of the more unusual visits coincided with a Prisoner Convention and it was incredible to see all the green and yellow Caterham 7 cars, people dressed in "Prisoner" type clothes enacting various scenes from the series such as the chess game.
I've decided to spread the photos over 2 blog postings - not because the photos are particularly good (they aren't!!) but because its such a beautiful place that I wanted to share it with everyone especially those who may not have visited.
You pass through the Gatehouse on arrival
The Pantheon (the Green Dome in the Prisoner series) and the Bell Tower (or Campanile)
The Round House - this was used by Patrick McGoohan as Number 6's residence. It now houses The Prisoner Shop
The Battery and Bell Tower
The Pantheon (or Green Dome)
The Gloriette
The Bristol Colonnade, Bell Tower and Dome
Statue of Hercules
The Gothic Pavilion
The Bristol Colonnade
The Dome, Colonnade and Round House (No 6's House)
The Gloriette
The Piazza and Pool
Mermaid
Part 2 will include more photos of the village and hotel, views of the estuary and woodland.
looks superb!! I really need to go there
ReplyDeleteIt is superb Pete and very photogenic!
ReplyDeleteJust about to start uploading next set of photos but I only hope I won't spoil the surprises of the place (although there are a lot not photographed!)