Porto is the capital of Portugal's north. It's known for port and for francesinha, a sandwich stuffed with meat, covered with cheese and drenched in sauce. It's a hard-working city--as the saying goes "Coimbra studies, Braga prays, Lisbon parties and Porto works."
I recommend spending 2 full days in Porto to really appreciate the city. We spent one day touring the historic center then another day on the other side of the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia. Porto is steep but it is compact and we were able to walk everywhere.
Follow Rick Steves Porto Walk and start at the Pedro IV statue on Praca da Liberdade. Porto's City Hall, built in 1957, sits in this square.
Praca de Gomes Teixeira
Fountain of Lions
Behind the fountain is the main building of the University of Porto.
Facing the university is the Armazens Cunhas Department Store in Art Deco style.
Blue aziulejos on the side of Carmo Church.
From the front, you can see that this is actually 2 churches in one. On the right, the Carmo Church and on the left, the Carmelite Church. In between is a narrow house with a green door.
Lello & Irmao Bookstore. Built in 1906, this bookstore was purportedly where JK Rowling got her inspiration for Harry Potter. The rumor is not true. Nonetheless, upwards of 2000 tourists pay €5 to visit it daily.
Praca de Lisboa Park--a park on top of a concrete parking garage.
Clerigos Church and Tower.
Sao Bento Train Station
The interior is decorated with azulejos--hand-painted tiles showing historical and folk scenes from the Douro Region.
The tiles to the right of the station show the marriage of King Joao I and his English bride Philippa, which established the Portuguese-English alliance. Their most famous son, Henry the Navigator, is shown beneath them.
Igreja de Santo Antonio dos Congregados at the end of the street near Sao Bento Station.
Walk in the opposite direction of the Igreja to reach the Se Cathedral.
The Se is on the Camino de Santiago.
Statue of Vimara Peres, a Christian warrior who reconquered this region from the Moors in 868.
Bishop's Palace
Backtrack to Rua das Flores. This traffic-free street is now a touristy main drag.
Flowers on the facade of one building, celebrating the name of the street.
Misericordia Church and Museum was once a hospital. Today, it's a museum.
Largo de Sao Domingo
Borges Market, now a popular nightclub.
Praca do Infante Dom Henrique (Henry the Navigator Square). The Stock Exchange Palace (Palacio da Bolsa) sits in the square. More on it later.
A statue of Henry the Navigator sits in the square and he is pointing towards the sea.
Igreja de Sao Francisco
Igreja de Sao Nicolau
Fancy McDonald's
View of the Douro from inside the McDonald's
2022 05 06
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