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Despite its modest size, Porto offers its visitors a whole world of history, culture, human heritage, architecture, places of entertainment, art, treats and what not. It is the largest city in northern Portugal, and the second largest in the country (after Lisbon the capital, which is in the center). It is located at the mouth of the Douro River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean, and the history of human settlement there dates back to ancient times, to the region of the fourth century BC, and perhaps even before that.
Over the course of history, Porto became a very important port city, which led to its repeated conquests by the Moors, the Spanish and finally by the Kingdom of Portugal. It is known all over the world for its wine, the port wine, which graces dessert menus around the world. In short, whether you're interested in history, architecture, cuisine or vibrant nightlife, you'll be sure to find yourself in Porto.
As mentioned, Porto has a history of about 2,500 years, so it is no wonder that it is steeped in historical sites and those that teach us about life in Europe in general and Porto in particular, over thousands of years. You can find everything in it, from churches and cathedrals, to the walls of the old city and to the lighthouse at the mouth of the Douro River into the ocean.
If you want to breathe the atmosphere of old Porto, and feel the combination between the ancient and the modern, then there is no better place to do it than to wander the river quay of the old city center. The atmosphere here is so powerful, and the preservation of history is so good, that UNESCO has decided that the entire district, and in fact the entire center of the old city of Porto, will be considered a world heritage site.
You don't need to be told what to do here. Just wander through the up and down alleys, climb and descend the wide stairs, look at the colorful facades of the houses, grab some coffee on the way from a local bar, and much more. The magic of this district can be inhaled for many hours. In addition, if you arrive in time, it is recommended to watch the Rabelo boats, which are traditional Portuguese wooden cargo boats, as they sway on the calm waters at sunset.
The name of the place may sound heavenly and troublesome to you, but as soon as you enter this neoclassical palace you will realize that this is not the case. Built by the Chamber of Commerce of Porto in the mid-nineteenth century, the palace presents its visitors with a dizzying array of sculptures, wall paintings and frescoes, carved stone decorations, noble chandeliers and much more. The covered garden of the building (Patio das Nacoes) allows a virtual exit from the towering walls, into a beautifully designed patio, and the Arab room (Moorish Revival Salão Árabe) will take you back to the Moorish occupation in the eighth century.
When you enter the Palace of the Stock Exchange, you will realize that business does not have to be done in halls decorated with iron and black and white colors. Porto's elite understood that the atmosphere and design of the Chamber of Commerce were just as important as the business conducted there.
You will find the palace at the address - R. de Ferreira Borges, 4050-253 Porto
This square represents much of Porto's modern history, although it is now home to many of the city's most prestigious buildings. It is outside the old city itself, that is, outside the river quarter, and indeed it also presents a more modern design. It was built when the city expanded further in the eighteenth century, and was intended to be a center for the urban expansion of the period. At one end of the square is the Cardosas Palace (Palácio das Cardosas), which used to be a monastery and was converted in recent years into a hotel (the phenomenon of turning heritage sites into hotels is very well known in Portugal).
Porto is known as one of the most important cities in the democratic history of Portugal and its colonies, among other things because after the demonstrations in it at the beginning of the 19th century, the Constitution of Portugal was established, and Brazil received the status of an independent country. This history is represented by the statue of Emperor Pedro I of Brazil, which was placed in the center of the square.
Those interested will be happy to hear that in the streets surrounding the square you can find some of the most prestigious boutique shops in Porto. You will find there a variety of high-end fashion stores, as well as luxury hotels and the like. An example of this is of course the hotel that was established in Cardosas Palace.
This section of the wall, which has remained standing since the 14th century, is specifically mentioned in UNESCO's recognition of the city as a World Heritage Site. Despite its uniqueness and the view it offers, it seems to have slipped under the radar of tourists, and the number of visitors to it is relatively few. However, It is difficult to find a better place than this to understand the geography of old and new Porto, learn about the city and its conduct in the Middle Ages, and even get an impression of the battles that once took place here. In the past, Porto was, in addition to its commercial status, also an important military city. Therefore, its wall is of great importance in its development Starting with the small orange grove at the beginning, take a walk along it and end with the amazing view of the Douro River that overlooks it, the wall is an attraction not to be missed.
This bridge is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Porto, and for good reason. It was designed by one of the partners in the Parisian Eiffel Tower, and inaugurated at the end of the nineteenth century (1886). It is a symbol of the industrial revolution that hit the whole world, including Porto, at that time. The bridge is built on two floors, with the city's light rail running on the top and vehicles and pedestrians passing on the bottom. However, on the upper level there is an observation point that you can reach, an observation point from which you can see both the Douro River and the aforementioned river quarter, from a bird's eye view (almost). There is a rail connecting the two levels, so you can pass between them.
Museum lovers will be delighted to discover that Porto has the oldest museum in Portugal, and that it is located inside the Palacio das Carrancas. The museum, founded in 1833 and named after the famous Portuguese sculptor, is dedicated almost entirely to Portuguese works. You will find over 13,000 exhibits (of which more than 3,000 paintings), most of them from the 19th and XNUMXth centuries. There is a wide variety of exhibitions here, permanent and temporary, old and more modern, all of which will be a feast for art and history lovers.
You can find the museum at the address - R. de Dom Manuel II 44, 4050-522 Porto
Being the second largest city in Portugal, it is no wonder that Porto had one of the largest Jewish communities in the Iberian Peninsula. Documentation of the community here begins in the 15th century until the end of the 20th century, when the Jews of Porto were forced to convert or be deported. A culture of martyrs developed there, but it is not so well documented and only at the beginning of the XNUMXth century were Jews allowed to return to the city and lead a Jewish life there. In recent years, a niche was discovered in one of the buildings in the Jewish quarter, which is known to have been used as a synagogue in the past. The building was renovated with the support of a local priest, and is currently used as a day center for the elderly. Sinagoga Kadoorie is the main building used today by the members of the small community of Porto and the surrounding area, and is the largest synagogue in Spain and Portugal.
You can find it at - R. de Guerra Junqueiro 340, 4150-386 Porto
In Porto, as in Porto, never boring. There is always something to do here, whether on the street or in palaces and buildings from different periods. Contemporary art museums, music, extreme attractions, galleries and much more. If they told you that you were going to stand in line to enter a bookstore, you would probably give up, wouldn't you? Think again.
This place is an attraction for almost a whole day, certainly if you are a lover of gardens and contemporary art. It is located in the west of Porto, and sits on a huge area in size. First, the villa itself is a beautiful Art Deco villa, built in the mid-twentieth century. Its modern appearance stands out from afar, and you may find it a relief after the multitude of buildings from the Middle Ages and previous centuries. The pinkish color of the building also makes it unusual. The villa is surrounded by carefully tended gardens, the kind you would expect to find in prestigious universities. Lawns, trees, fountains, canals and green bushes, all these surround the villa in abundance.
On the other side of the area, you will find the Serralves Museum of Modern Art. The museum was inaugurated in 1999, and presents at any given time a number of changing exhibitions at the highest level. You will find about four or five exhibitions in it, presenting a variety of contemporary works of art from diverse media and creative fields.
Address of the villa and museum – Rua Sao Joao de Castro 210, Porto.
Porto's House of Music is an impressive addition to the city's architectural repertoire, and it is recommended to visit even for those who do not like classical music. The enormous structure, which looks a bit like an upside-down house and which passed almost every possible rule for building concert halls, may well rebrand the concept to you. Inaugurated in 2005, it is home to the Porto Symphony Orchestra. On some days you will be able to hear the orchestra rehearse, and if you want then of course you can also buy a ticket to hear one of the international musicians who appear there frequently.
Address – Avenida da Boavista 604, Porto.
Remember when we said you'd want to wait in line to get into a bookstore? So this is the place. This magical shop (founded in 1906) attracts visitors from all over the world, both for its mysterious atmosphere and for its unique interior design. Huge wooden cabinets filled with books, galleries and banisters with a classic design, winding staircases that go up to the gallery floor and more, all of these make the place suitable material for the legends it sells. The ceiling decorations, the decorated glass windows and the general design, all of these can keep you here for hours (and that's before we even mentioned the books themselves).
With all the charm of this place, you certainly won't be surprised if we tell you that J.K. Rowling (who we all remember from the Harry Potter book series) loved coming here, when she lived in Porto and worked as an English teacher.
This is the westernmost bridge in Porto, and it is the last one that goes over the Douro River before the latter flows into the Atlantic Ocean. It was inaugurated in 1963, then it was the longest concrete bridge in the world. Today this bridge is known among tourists mainly due to the possibility to climb it, and to view both Porto and the Atlantic Ocean from it.
Several companies offer their services to guide you in the climb, and to provide you with the necessary safety accessories. You will be equipped with a safety harness with which you will be tied to the cable connected to the bridge. You will do the climb itself along the concrete arch that supports the road that passes above your head. Once you reach the top of the arch, you will see the river and old Porto spread out before you.
If you are a soccer fan, you must have heard of the Porto soccer team (FC Porto). Porto is a magnificent team in European terms, which has won dozens of championships, twice in the Champions League, a large number of times in the Portugal Cup and a host of other titles, training in its home stadium in the city. For the fans, we recommend both going to the huge home stadium (Estadio do Dragao), and to the museum of the soccer team located nearby. In any case, even if you are not big fans yourself, it is highly recommended not to underestimate the deep love that the residents of Porto have for their successful football team. The team's museum is at the eastern end of the stadium itself, and displays statues of great players in the past, important games in the team's history, and more.
Stadium address – Via Futebol Clube do Porto, 4350-415 Porto
This is one of the most important markets in Porto, and together with the Vandoma flea market you can cover the city's market scene. Bulahau Market is a huge market in size, and you can find there almost anything you can think of. It was inaugurated in 1914, and is considered one of the oldest, most important and nostalgic institutions of the city. There are stalls here selling fruit and vegetables, meat, fish and cheese, in addition to stalls for souvenirs, household items and flowers.
The market is open every day (except Sunday) between 08:00 and 20:00, except for Saturday when it closes at six in the evening | Address - R. Formosa, 4000-214 Porto
Porto is a vibrant city with the cultural scene of an important European city, so you can find dozens of events of all kinds every month. Festivals, music performances, theater, literature and art, all these and more you can find there. Here are some examples of such events, but there are many more.
Although it is the shortest of all, as it is held only for one night only, the festival of St. John is the most famous of the festivals held in the city. Similar to Independence Day around the world, on the night of June 23 (the feast of St. John, the city's patron saint), the city's residents go out to hit each other with squeaky plastic hammers, along with wild celebrations of beer and parties. During the night (the festivities start among the young already during the afternoon) you will find live music shows, drinking games, fireworks and a host of other events throughout the city to upgrade the atmosphere.
This festival was founded in 1999, and since then it has been held every year in June at the National Press Museum of Portugal in Porto (Museu Nacional da Imprensa). Illustrators and writers from all over the world come to it, and every year the festival has a different theme. Each year, participants submit their proposals to the competition, and the most successful comics (chosen by international vote) are edited and published.
This unique festival is held for five days every year, between July 31st and August 4th. Its purpose is to present and preserve unique cultures and traditions from Portugal and the rest of the world, and among the participants you will find those from all continents. The festival includes theater performances, concerts and live musical performances, street artists and discussion groups.
This is the perfect event for lovers of cultures and history, as it gathers in one place a multitude of folklores that you will find difficult to see in their original form.
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