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The ancient Portuguese city of Porto, which gave the name to the whole country at once, is an inexhaustible treasury of Portugal. It is so atmospheric and unique, versatile and authentic that each of its guests will find something to see in Porto. You can walk endlessly through the labyrinths of its narrow streets, looking at ancient architectural masterpieces, colorful houses with dark red tiled roofs, numerous museums, pompous baroque churches and numerous other sights of Porto.
What to see in Porto first of all< /h2>
Of course, guests of the city will always find something to see in Porto in 1 day, but in a good way it will take at least about a week to enjoy the enchanting atmosphere of the ancient port city. The following review will just help you choose the most interesting places to make your acquaintance with Porto as informative and impressive as possible.
1. Ribeira quarter
The Ribeira quarter, located on the Douro River Ruialbuquerque
As a rule, it is from this place that organized excursions in Porto begin. It is here that acquaintance with the national color of Portugal begins – on medieval cobbled streets, replete with bright monuments of antiquity. The sounds of numerous taverns and restaurants coming from the coast of Ribeira merge into a single hubbub that does not stop from early morning until late evening. The ancient colorful houses of Ribeira reach the age of three hundred years, while each of these buildings is original in its own way.
2. Freedom Square
Monument to King Pedro IV on Freedom Square Diego Delso
The main square of the city, surrounded by mansions and administrative buildings, decorated in a laconic Art Nouveau style, is a very striking contrast with the colorful and chaotic diversity of Ribeira. All buildings surrounding the square were built in the same architectural style, according to a single plan. The square is crowned by a 19th century monument erected in honor of King Pedro IV.
3. Santa Catarina Street
A large number of shops, cafes and patisseries in Santa Catarina street António M.L. Cabral
This street can be called one of the key tourist attractions of Porto – this is the first thing that every first-time visitor should visit in Porto. It is here that everyone can buy high-quality goods and memorabilia – a walk along Santa Catarina resembles a visit to a museum, where colorful and creative showcases act as exhibits. The revival in this area does not stop until late at night – everyone who arrives here for the first time seeks to visit as many souvenir shops, shops, local pastry shops and cafes as possible.
4. Cafe Majestic
Art Nouveau Cafe Majestic on Via Santa Catarina mmmmngai@rogers.com
One of the main attractions of Porto is the Majestic cafe, whose age will soon cross the century boundary. This is a truly iconic institution, where the coffee culture of Portugal is fully reflected. Both external and internal decoration of the cafe is a true masterpiece of art. Carved ceilings, sculptures, solid wood furniture – all this fascinates with its beauty and subtlety of execution. Visitors to the cafe can order fresh aromatic pastries and one of the many varieties of the best Portuguese coffee.
Official website: https://www.cafemajestic.
5. Lello & Sons Bookstore
The Lello & Sons bookstore is famous for the interior and architecture of the Michał Huniewicz building
Today, tourists, choosing where to go in Porto, certainly choose this famous place – they come here not only to buy one of the book works, but also just like in a museum – to admire the magnificent architectural creation. The store was founded in 1894 by the Lello brothers, who commissioned one of the talented architects of that time to decorate the premises of the future library. The result of this work can be admired to this day: the skillful wood carving, the curved staircase, the stained-glass mosaic on the ceiling glass and the magnificent Art Deco facade are impressive.
Official website: https://www.livrarialello.
See the magnificent views of Porto in this beautiful video!
6. Bishop's Palace
View of the Bishop's Palace of António Amen
The Bishop's Palace, located in the heart of the city, on a hill, not far from the Cathedral, was rebuilt in the Middle Ages, and until the 19th century acted as the residence of bishops. What the palace looks like today is the result of a thorough reconstruction of the former building, made in the Romanesque style. In the 18th century, the building expanded significantly, and its architectural design acquired rococo and baroque features.
7. Exchange Palace
The Palace of the Stock Exchange and the monument to Henry the Navigator in Infanta Henrique Square in Port
In the historic district of Porto, there is another palace – the Exchange Palace, built on the ruins of a Franciscan monastic monastery, which burned down in the 19th century. Local merchants, without thinking twice, appropriated everything that was left of the structure. As a result, a building in the neoclassical style grew up on this site, and its interiors have survived in perfect condition to this day, and today they arouse genuine admiration of visitors. So the business building turned into a real palace, which houses a museum with a collection of sculptures and paintings.
Official website:https://palaciodabolsa.com
8. House of Music
House of Music – Porto concert hall in the Boavisto round square Concierge.2C
The following recommendations will relate to a landmark that has a very unusual architectural appearance. The building in the style of deconstructivism, located in the historical center of Porto, is nothing but the house of Music, which opened its doors quite recently – in 2005. Today, the building, due to its non-standard appearance and cultural significance, has become one of the new symbols of the city, and serves as a concert hall. Inside the premises there is a hall that can accommodate about one and a half thousand people, as well as a restaurant, cafe, music store and rehearsal rooms.
Official website: http://www.casadamusica.com
9. Sao Bento Station
Sao Bento Station is located in the city center, on Almeida Garret Square HombreDHojalata
This is the main railway station of the city, where trains arrive from all over Portugal, but not only this has made it an important tourist destination. São Bento is an important landmark in Portugal, which appeared on the site of a burned-out Benedictine monastery in the early 20th century. It is also one of the most picturesque train stations in all of Europe, because all its walls are lined with azulejos tiles on the inside, which depict famous episodes from the glorious history of Portugal.
Official website: https: //www.cp.pt/passageiros
10. Porto Cathedral
The massive building of the Cathedral is located in the historical center of Porto near the Douro River
In the highest part of Porto, in its historical center, rises the city's cathedral. The building of the cathedral was repeatedly rebuilt and supplemented, so its external design eventually lost the features of architectural unity. Its appearance with a predominance of lead-gray shades is distinguished by strictness and even some severity, which makes an even more vivid impression on its visitors. A recognizable decoration of the facade is a window in the form of a Romanesque rose, and the main jewel of the cathedral is an 800-kilogram silver altar walled up in an altar niche.
11. Church of Carmo and the Carmelites
Ruins of the Church of Carmo Bert K.
Another attraction of the rating is the Carmelite Church, combined into a single ensemble with the Carmo Temple. These two buildings, built in the late Middle Ages, are located in the historical part of Porto. The facade of the Carmo church is a mixture of baroque and rococo, and the Carmelite facade is an example of classicism, a style characteristic of many Portuguese churches. The interior of the temples surprises with an incredible abundance of gilding and other elements of skillful decor.
12. Church and Clerigos Tower
Clerigos church and tower – church bell tower of Ronnie Macdonald temple
The Clerigos Tower is another recognizable symbol of Porto. This tall building can be seen from anywhere in the city, so it is an excellent reference point for tourists arriving in Porto, and in past centuries it was also a reference point for ships arriving in Porto. In fact, the tower is the bell tower of the Clerigos temple. This complex was erected in the distant 18th century, and to this day the church is open for visiting Catholic services. The facade of the temple, made in the Baroque style, is generously decorated with statues and relief paintings, and a staircase with figured balustrades leads to the central entrance.
Official website: http://www.torredosclerigos< /p>
13. St. Francis
View of the facades of the church of St. Francis in Porto
With the advent of the Order of the Poor, founded by St. Francis, in Porto in the 13th century, the construction of the temple began, which became an important landmark of Porto. It was then that the foundation of the future church was laid, but its construction continued until the 15th century – it was then that King Ferdinand I made his significant financial contribution to the completion of construction. The exterior of the temple is an example of a severe Gothic style, and at the same time, the interior decoration in the Baroque style surprises with luxurious and rich decor – for example, more than 300 kilograms of pure gold were spent on interior decoration.
14. Chapel das Almas
Chapel das Almas is covered with thousands of traditional azulejo tiles Petr Adam Dohnálek
Once the building of the chapel, erected in the 18th century, was a simple and inconspicuous chapel, until its facade was completely covered with huge panels of traditional azulejo tiles. The blue and white images of the panel reflect significant scenes from the life of Saints Francis and Catherine, in whose honor the chapel was erected. The interior of the chapel is decorated with similar paintings. Guides in Porto will confirm that there is not a single building in the city that is so lavishly decorated with Portuguese tiles.
15. Museum Soares dos Reis
Soares Museum- dos Reis located in the António Amen Carrancas Palace
The main attractions of Porto are briefly completed by the museum inside the Carrancas Palace. This is one of the most popular museums in Portugal, which holds the richest collection of national art pieces made by Portuguese masters. The collection once began with the works of court masters and works confiscated in monasteries. An essential part of the exposition is the work of António Soares dos Reis, the sculptor after whom the museum was renamed.
Official website: http://www.museusoaresdosreis
Porto attractions: what else to visit in Porto?
The treasures of Porto are so numerous that even having visited many of the most remote corners of this city, there is always something to see more. Other sights of Porto, photos with names and descriptions can complement your leisure time if the main sights of the city have already been thoroughly studied and stored in memories for many years.
16. Serralves Museum
Serralves Museum surrounded by a magnificent landscaped park User:Rei-artur
Almost all the time of its existence, Porto has been a haven for great artists. And only in the 20th century a new generation of architects in the city came to the decision to create a museum of modern arts in the estate of Serralves. The museum building was designed in a modern minimalist style by Alvar Siza Vieira. In 1999, the museum opened its doors to the first visitors to explore the collection of contemporary creations dating back to 1968. Every year, the museum hosts expositions of works by many contemporary artists of Portugal.
Official website: https://www.serralves
17. Museum of Port Wine
Exhibits of the José Luís Ávila Silveira Wine Museum
On the territory of one of the oldest wineries in Portugal, in the Alto Douro region, there is a port wine museum dedicated to the famous local type of wine – port wine. Reviews of those who visited this museum indicate that during the tour the history of the drink, the features of its manufacture are described in great detail and in an interesting way, and a lot of devices used in winemaking are demonstrated. In addition, guests can always visit the tasting room and try a variety of high-class port wines.
Official website: https://tour.calem.
18. Dragao Stadium
Aerial view of CaGeRaGe Dragon Stadium < p>Dragao is the home stadium of the Portuguese football club, built specifically for the 2004 championship and has become an important landmark. This is the second largest stadium in Portugal, where today the national team of the country plays its matches. It can accommodate over 50,000 spectators. The name of the stadium itself comes from the dragon, which is depicted on the emblem of the Portuguese club.
Official website: https://www.fcporto.pt/en
19 Luis I Bridge
Two-level bridge Luis I against the backdrop of the cityscape at sunset
There are many bridges in Portugal that cross the numerous rivers of the country, but one of the most memorable is the Luis I Bridge, built at the end of the 19th century. The trip to this place will not be difficult if your path runs through the Ribeiro quarter, because the bridge connects Ribeira with the town of Vila Nova de Gaia. The bridge is a giant metal structure of two levels, on the first of which there is a road for cars, on the second – for the subway. You can walk along the bridge and be impressed by the grandeur of the structure – there are separate paths for pedestrians.
20. Funicular
Panoramic view of the Duoro River and the medieval Ribeira from the funicular in Porto
Due to the large elevation difference in the area where the city of Porto is located, one cannot do without a diverse and even somewhat exotic transport – for example, such as a funicular. The only funicular that exists in Porto connects two urban areas – the famous tourist Ribeira on the sea coast, with famous Porto hotels and restaurants, and the more modest Batalha, located on a hill. A capacious trailer with transparent walls moves along the monorail for 280 meters for 3 minutes.
The journey to Porto is imprinted in the heart of every guest for many years. Old houses, centuries-old walls and narrow streets of Ribeira amaze the imagination, high-class port wine warms the blood, a walk along the embankment brings a thoughtful and detached mood, hearty and varied Portuguese cuisine gives new gastronomic impressions, and acquaintance with Porto becomes one of the brightest events in the life of each of you . Read also about the sights of Lisbon and get inspired for your next trip to Portugal.