Porto is a city with an indefinable energy. Here, life flows at a slower pace.
The ups and downs of the alleys, the rustle of the laundry that dries in the wind, the boats that sail slowly on the river, the cellars and the wine lodges… In short, you can blow off some stea and the enjoy the city with confidance.
Porto extends over the mouth of the Rio Douro: on the right bank there’s the historical city with the buildings decorated by the blue azulejos, the portuguese traditional hand painted ceramic tiles; on the opposite side, there’re numerous cellars and cafes where you can taste the various types of wine porto.
One of the most pleasant experiences is visiting the city on foot: the historic center is a maze of narrow alleys and is full of historic buildings that emerge at every corner.
For this reason, it’ better to avoid driving around the city.
We left our small van in a parking near the Senhora da Ora metro station, in the north-west area of the city, and in just 15 minutes we arrived at the first stop of our itinerary, getting off at the station Trindade.
This is our walking tour discovering Porto.
• Stage n.1: Avenida dos Aliados and Praça da Liberdade
An excellent starting point to explore the city is Praça de Trindade with its beautiful neoclassical church, not far from the tram stop with the same name.
From here, in fact, it’s possible to walk to many of the main interesting sites of the city, such as Praça da Liberdade, Sao Bento station, the Torre dos Clerigos, the Cathedral of Porto and Rua Saint Catherine.
From Praça de Trindade starts the Avenida dos Aliados, full of buildings in Art Nouveau style built in the twentieth century, such as that of the Municipality or some banks, up to Praça da Liberdade, the main square of the city, at the center of which stands the equestrian statue depicting King Peter IV while showing the people the Constitutional Charter.
With a small inversion, we head towards the nineteenth-century Mercato do Bolhao, one of the most vital areas of Porto where you can discover the most authentic part of the city.
Unfortunately, at the time of our visit the market was closed for renovation. However, it was worth the walk in this area (Rua de Sá da Bandeira): here, in fact, you come across small shops that have preserved their original appearance intact.
• Stage n.2: Torre dos Clerigos
We continue towards the Torre dos Clérigos, which with its 76 meters high stands out over the city and offers a 360 ° panoramic view of the city
This monumental complex, the highest in all of Portugal, was built for the brotherhood of the Poor Clerics in the “Hangman’s Hill”, in the past the burial place of the execute.
• Stage n.3: Igreja do Carmo
After a short stop in the the Jardín de la Cordonería, in front of the Torre dos Clérigos, we arrive at the Igreja do Carmo, one of the most important and significant churches of Porto’s religious architecture.
Igreja do Carmo
The church overlooks the square of the same name with two facades: the main one, in rococo style, richly decorated with windows and niches; the lateral one, completely covered by azulejos, the typical blue tiles of the city, which represent the imposition of the scapulary on Mount Carmel.
Not far from the Church you can find the Lello e Irmao Library, now famous because it’s used as a set for some Harry Potter films. This charming shop has huge bookcases full of books that reach the roof and a beautiful wooden staircase that occupies the center of the room.
It’s not difficult to find it: if you find a very long line of tourists queuing to enter this library you have arrived at your destination. Without any hesitation, we immediately decide to skip this stage.
I (Rosa) was lucky enough to visit the library more than ten years ago when it was not yet famous and stormed by tourists, but especially when there was no entrance ticket (to access the library you have to pay a ticket for 5 €).
Today the notoriety of the shop has made its magic vanish. So consider carefully whether to visit the library.
• Stage n.4: São Bento railway station
We return to Praça da Liberdade and reach one of the main sites of interest in the city: the São Bento railway station.
What makes the building unique is its entrance: once you enter the station, in fact, a hall decorated with a myriad of azulejos awaits us, in which the history of Portugal is portrayed.
• Stage n.5: Sé do Porto
From São Bento station we take Rua das Flores, a narrow street overlooked by small second-hand bookshops and old-fashioned stationery stores, and we continue going south, until we reach the walls that once protected the city. Here, there is the Cathedral of Porto (Sé do Porto), a fortress church with two tall bell towers and a cloister inside covered with tiles decorated with religious scenes
• Stage n.6: Igreja de Sao Francisco
We return to the main street and turn towards Rúa de Mousinho da Silveira which leads us to Praça Infante Dom Henrique, where the Palacio da Bolsa, in neoclassical style, stands and the Igreja de Sao Francisco, another important religious site which is characterized by its austere Gothic style on the outside and the Baroque splendor on the inside.
• Stage n.7: Ribeira
We enter the intricate alley of Rúa Alfándega and arrive at the Riberia district, which overlooks the Duero bank.
It’s one of the most picturesque areas of the historic center of the city, which is characterized by its colorful and decorated facades that are reflected on the river.
The Ribeira district is perfect for a short stop and taste the specialties of Portuguese cuisine in one of the numerous cafés and restaurants with terraces overlooking the Duero.
You will be spoiled for choice!
• Stage n.8: Dom Luis I Bridge
We skirt the long river along the lively Cais de Riberia and cross the Ponte de Dom Luis I, which connects the old city with Vila Nova De Gaia, where the famous Porto cellars are located.
The upper part of the bridge is intended for the transit of rail vehicles, while the lower part is reserved for the passage of vehicles, pedestrians have a sidewalk available in both floors.
If the iron structure of the bridge seems to remind you of the arches of the most famous Effeil Tower, your feeling is correct! The bridge was designed by a pupil of Alexandre Gustave Eiffel.
The bridge is the launching point for intrepid kids who challenge their fate by jumping into the river to the sound of dips with pierced somersaults (behind, of course, a small tip).
From the bridge you can admire a beautiful panorama of the Duero, the Ribeira district and the wine cellars with their showy signs.
View from the Dom Luis I Bridge
• Stage n.9: Vila Nova De Gaia
A visit to Porto is not complete without a tasting of the renowned Porto wine, the typical liqueur wine of the place, in one of the lodges of the numerous wineries on the river.
White and red port tasting at the famous Taylor’s winery
The wineries are located in the Vila Nova de Gaia area, beyond the Luis I bridge.
Our advice? Lose yourself in the uphill alleys and choose the winery that most inspire you.
We opted for Taylor’s winery, one of the oldest in the city.
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