Porto

Most of the Portuguese train stations are adorned with tiles however this one is in a league of its own. Built at the beginning of the 20th century,  the vestibule decorated with twenty thousand tiles painted by Jorge Colaço illustrates the transport evolution and events of Portuguese history and life.

The church of Santo Ildefonso is an eighteenth-century church, situated near Batalha Square.

The church, completed in 1739, it was built in a proto-Baroque style and features a retable by the Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni and a façade of tilework. The church, named in honour of the Visigoth, Ildephonsus of Toledo, bishop of Toledo from 657 until his death in 667.

The 12th-century fortress-cathedral is the largest place of worship in Porto and one of the oldest historical monuments. It’ s where Prince Henrique, Navigator was baptised and where King D. João I married the English Princess Philippa of Lancaster in the 14th century.

The church of Santa Clara was part of the old convent with the same name, founded by D. João I, in 1416. at the request of the Franciscan nuns of the Poor Clares who wanted to replace the former monastery, from the XIII, for a smaller one

In its interior, we can find one of the best examples of the art of the gilded carving of the Baroque Joanino, that awes every visitor

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site the Church of São Francisco is located in the Historic Centre of the city. The simple gothic exterior deceives the lavish golden interior heavily decorated in gold leaf in the Baroque style, having been called the Golden Church

In 1809, when Napoleon’s troops passed through Porto. The French Cavalry officers decided that the Church of São Francisco would be an ideal stable for their horses.

Palácio da Bolsa is in the historical centre, near the Church of São Francisco. Once part of the  13th century São Francis Convent.

In 1832, during the Liberal Wars, the convent’s cloisters were destroyed by a fire. D. Maria II subsequently donated the charred land to the merchants of Porto, who built their stock exchange and commercial association there.

A construction that took almost 70 years to complete had six leading architects, dozens of master carvers, plasterers, painters, gilders, masons and hundreds of workers.

It is one of the most visited monuments in Porto, with the famous Arabian Room being its major highlight. The Palace’s lavish interiors served as a showroom to impress European investors.

With the implementation of the Republic, on October 5th, 1910, the Palace was vacated, and an existing painting of King  D. Carlos I was vandalised with two gunshots.

Avoid the crowd – Palácio da Bolsa  Guided Tour Ticket Here

The church and the Tower of the brotherhood of Clerics are part of a baroque-inspired building from the 18th century, by Nicolau Nasoni.

This beautiful and impressive Tower with more than 75m and 250 steps commands a breathtaking view and has stamped its mark in the history of the city.

Due to its height and locations, it was used, in the 19th century, to inform the inhabitants of the city that the Royal Mail Vessel was due to arrive. Two flags hoisted, meant that they would have two days to prepare their packages before the vessel’s arrival.

It also served as a clock. Every day at midday a flare would be set up from the tower and citizens would then be warned that it was midday and that it was time to close their businesses.

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Ribeira is one of the oldest neighbourhoods of Porto and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Ribeira is definitely, the place to visit in Porto. Just wander around the around Ribeira’s streets, packed with picturesque colourful houses and feel the lively atmosphere. These medieval houses still bubble with everyday life, flowers hanging from balconies, clothes drying, and neighbours greeting each other. Admire the old houses of Miragaia, very close to the Ribeira Quay, and visit the Casa do Infante.

Ribeira Quay can also be one of the best places in town to eat.  Dining in traditional restaurants, with tables facing the river, is an excellent way to start the evening.

Connecting Porto to Vila Nova de Gaia this feat of engineering has stood since 1886 and was created by Gustave Eiffel’s disciple Théophile Seyrig

You may cross it on foot and see one of the most beautiful views over Porto to be had from Gaia.

You can’t go to Porto and not taste the Port wine.

You can get a glass of Port wine at any number of restaurants in Porto, but the things to do in Porto is to cross the river to Gaia and visit the authentic Port wine cellars, Sandeman, Ramos Pinto and Ferreira, higher up, Graham. Learn how it is produced, aged and stored. Sample the wine and learn to differentiate them

It is said that the Port wine resulted from a happy coincidence. England was importing  red wine from Portugal, and for it to survive the long journey north the wine producers decided to add to it  “aguardent”, resulting in a smooth, sweet, and more substantial wine

Port is commonly served after meals as a dessert wine or as an apéritif.

The Rabelos boats used to bring the wine from the Douro valley to the cellars, now adorn the river banks and offer boat tours under Porto’s six bridges. Though touristy it is an enjoyable ride

Along the Vila Nova de Gaia Riverside, there is a cable car (Teleférico de Gaia) that transports visitors from the banks of the Douro up to the elegant, whitewashed Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar. From this unique circular cloister, there are unparalleled views across the Douro to the Ribeira and Porto landscape.

Its iconic staircase will invite you to wander through what is considered one of the most beautiful art nouveau bookshops in the world and said to have inspired the Harry Potter stories.

Café Majestic  is one of the best examples of Art Nouveau in the city and an iconic spot in the fashionable Santa Catarina Street

It dates back to 1906 and still has that charm associated with times gone by

The 19th-century, wrought-iron  market sells fresh produce throughout the year, and is by itself an icon

With two floors, this market is divided by areas: fishmongers, butchers, green grocers and florists. Come inside and be overwhelmed by the many sights, sounds, tastes and smells. Amuse yourself with the healthy banter between stalls, it will definitely enrich your vocabulary, specially in the fishmongers stalls

Opened : mon-fri 07:00-17:00 sat 07:00-13:00

A family chocolate business founded in 1933, known for great quality chocolates still made in the traditional way.

Try the chocolate línguas de gato, the house’s signature product, or the chocolate and Port wine bonbons.

Foz is where the city meets the Atlantic Ocean.

Tram 1 will take you to Foz do Douro – a former fisherman’s quarter but now the city’s most upmarket suburb. Arriving in Foz, enjoy the beach, stroll along the seafront or watch the sunset from one of many beach-level cafés.

Here you will also encounter the Castelo do Queijo, parks and gardens, the Pergola viewpoint and several surf schools where you can learn this sport or improve your technique

The Fundação Serralves administers the Museu de Arte Contemporânea designed by Porto’s Pritzker Prize awarded architect, Álvaro Siza Vieira. This museum offers various contemporary art exhibitions with a separate exhibition space in the Casa de Serralves.

The surrounding garden offers neat lawns, herbal gardens, gravel paths, outdoor art and outdoor Jazz concerts in summer. There is also a cafe, restaurant and museum shop, and a small farm.

Avoid the Crowd – Get your Ticket Here

The Crystal Palace Gardens include the Porto Romantic Museum and the Port Wine Museum as well as the Rosa Mota pavilion. The gardens are a remarkable example of the romantic periods and offer great views over the Douro river and the city

A thing to do in Porto is to try a francesinha (literally meaning a little french girl), a sandwich with cured ham, sausage, and steak covered in melted cheese, dripping sauce, accompanied by chips

Not for the weak of stomach nor those who count their calories!

The beautiful terraced slopes of the Douro valley, covered in vines, starts near Barqueiros, extending up to Barca de Alva. If the length of your stay permits it, one of the things to do in Porto is to catch the train or boat from Porto to the Douro valley, one of the most striking man-made rural landscapes.

The river Douro served as means of transport. The Rabelos boats would bring the barrels from the manor houses to the Cellars in Gaia. These barrels were never quite full, in case of an accident occurring with the boat, they would still remain afloat

Porto, like its wine, is better appreciated when you know its history.

During the Roman times, it was a port in between the route from Olisipo (Lisbon) to Bracara Augusta (Braga).

Having fallen under the rule of the Moors in 711, D. Afonso III, King of Asturias, Léon and Galicia, sent his men to conquer what was then known as the settlement of Portus Cale (now vila Nova de Gaia). It is said that the word Portugal is a deviation from Portus Cale. The land itself gave origin to Condado Portucalense, but that is another tale to be told when learning about Guimarães.

In 1387 Porto was the stage in which the marriage of D. João I and Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt, took place. With it came the world’s oldest recorded military alliance between Portugal and England – The Treaty of Windsor. It was also from here that their son Infante D. Henrique set sail to conquer Ceuta initiating the Age of Discovery.

The nickname given to Porto’s inhabitants of tripeiros (Tripe) is because the best meat was packed into the seafaring vessels while the offcuts and byproducts as tripe were left behind for the citizens of Porto. A delicatessen still to be found in many typical restaurants.

By the 13th-century wine production in the Douro valley was already established. However, it was Marques de Pombal that defined how and limited the region on which it was permitted to produce port to ensure the wine’s quality. This was the first attempt to control wine quality and production in Europe.

In the 19th century, Napoleon troops invaded Porto to be ousted by the 1st Duke of Wellington. The Anglo-Portuguese Army crossed the Douro River from the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar using wine barges to transport the troops, outflanking the French Army.

In the 19th century, Porto played a fundamental role in the war between Absolutists and Liberalists. D. Pedro IV and the faithful Liberalists of Porto won the siege of the Miguelist troops during the civil war of 1832-34. This feat earned the city, bestowed by D. Maria II the title of Invicta Cidade do Porto and D. Pedro IV post mortem literally gave it his heart, which is housed in the Church of Lapa.

The city’s name is Porto, however, in Portuguese, it is generally preceded by the article “O” (the). The English that settled there for the wine trade heard it as a single word and have from them on called it Oporto.