Porto full day
Program
We leave Lisbon through
the highway towards North. Before reaching Porto, we can stop in Coimbra for a
comfort stop and a quick sightseeing. We begin our tour with a stop in the
south bank of the river, at the top of a Hill, near Serra do Pilar Monastery,
for a nice view of Porto. Free time for lunch near Douro river, to taste the well-known
Porto gastronomy, like bacalhau (codfish), ‘arroz de cabrito’ (goat and
rice dish), ‘arroz de cabidela’ (game stock and rice) and the historical city
favourite, tripe ‘à moda do Porto’.
Porto, the country´s second largest city and one of Europe's most charismatic
cities has carefully preserved its architectonic treasures. This is the city that
originated and named Port Wine and Portugal, famed for its riverside hills,
medieval alleys, Parisian-style plazas, historic monuments and churches and a
rather enchanting atmosphere.
Many leading tourist attractions and shops in Porto are to be found off the
Avenida dos Aliados and the Rua Santa Catarina.
This wide Avenue (dos
Aliados) is one of the central points of Porto. The wide boulevard is
surrounded by impressive Neoclassical buildings. At the head of this
Avenue is the Camara Municipal (Town Hall) and at its southern end is the Praca
da Liberdade. Streets leading off the Avenue offer some of Porto main
shopping streets.
To the South East of the Avenue is the Estacao de
Sao Bento - Porto main train station, which is worth visiting to view the
20,000 azulejos.
Close by is rua das Flores - this small street
which goes up towards the São Bento station is flanked by traditional
businesses and houses from the 18C with emblazoned facades. It
was the old goldsmiths' and jewellers' street.
Close to the Avenida dos Aliados, there’s Torre
dos Clérigos, a notable tower boasting exceptional views, prominent monument
and the symbol of Porto dating back to the 18th century. Not far Lello
bookshop with a neo-gothic façade, and Carmo church (has a splendid architecture)
and Miragaia quarter (includes Santo António Hospital, the ancient city walls
of Porto and several palaces and churches).
Praça (square) da Batalha is east of São Bento
station and Avenida dos Aliados, one of the main squares in Porto and is near
to popular attractions like the University of Porto (Universidade do
Porto), the Crystal Palace Garden (Jardim do Palácio de Cristal), Music Hall
(Casa da Música with a fantastic modern architecture).
The 12th-century Porto Cathedral – complex which
also houses the Episcopal palace - resembles a fortress and enjoys a hilltop
location from where you can get your first views of the Ribeira and Vila
Nova de Gaia. In Praça do Infante you can admire the Ferreira Borges market
and not far Grilos church from the XVI century in Renaissance style. The
cathedral is just a short walk from the Praça da Ribeira in
the old medieval town that lines the River Douro
and retains its medieval feel with lots of steep, narrow, cobbled streets lined
with tall brightly painted houses all topped in terracotta roof tiles.
The Palacio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange) is a fine
example of 19th century architecture with its famous Arabic Room featuring
laminate gold decorations.
Sao Fancisco church was constructed in the 1200s.
Visitors can admire the Roman and Gothic styles of the church as well as its
ravishing gilt wood work in the interior.
The Dom Luis I Bridge dating back to the 19th
century is on two levels, the lower part connects the Ribeira district bank
with the area of the wine cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. Here we’ll go to
discover the secrets of Port wine. There are 58 wine companies spread out on
the river bank and we’ll comprise a visit to one of them with Port wine
tasting included.
On the way back to Lisbon, you may wish to halt at
Fatima for a comfort stop.