Pineapples on top

In the 16th century pineapples were the height of sophistication, and those aristocrats who couldn’t afford one were able to rent one for the evening as a centrepiece for their banqueting table. And it wasn’t just on tables they appeared, they also turned up in art and in architecture. Apparently if there was a pineapple on a gate post, staircase or in this case on the roof you could expect great hospitality and luxury.

pineapple on top in Mertola

This is another snapshot post for #SquareTops, but if you fancy exploring more of Mértola where this delightful building and others can be found visit here and/or here.

Author: BeckyB

It had been a good life walking, cooking, photographing, volunteering, blogging, and best of all spending time with MrB, family, & friends. Sadly it is no longer what it was, as suddenly and unexpectedly I became a widow.

40 thoughts

  3. What a delightful building and although I’d heard of pineapples being the symbol of hospitality, I’d forgotten it. 😀

  7. Apparently in the early days, a single fruit cost the equivalent of £5000. A sculpted one was much cheaper. And wouldn’t rot either.

Comments are closed.