Porto City Center Walk

The center of Porto is not that big and therefore you can cover all distances on foot. The problem is not so much the distance as the continuous height differences. Almost no street is flat.

The Douro offers an ideal gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. Along this river, tons of gold from the colonies were brought in. Gold that was used to build this thriving port city on the north bank of the river. However, the Douro runs in a steep valley, so that almost all streets with a pronounced slope run upwards.

We marvel at the colorful tiled facades (azulejos for the friends). We instantly fall in love with the generous hospitable laughter of the Portuguese people.

At the top of the highest hill of the old town we reach the Sé Cathedral. The thirteenth century structure with battlements is more reminiscent of a fortress than a church. It seems like a runaway from an episode of Game of Thrones. The cathedral is located in a majestic square from where you have a fantastic view of the city. Inside there is not much to see, but for € 3 you can visit the adjacent monastery. There, the successful combination of beautiful tile walls and Gothic colonnades will make your camera work overtime.

Not much further, we test our satiety limit for spiritual stops with a visit to the San Francisco church. For a ticket of a hefty € 7 you can marvel at a décor of national baroque and rococo. From floor to ceiling, carvings grace the walls of this special church. Could have been particularly beautiful, were it not for the fact that almost 400 kilograms of gold leaf have been stuck to these wooden statues. They have let themselves go in thousands of details. It's like the golden walls are melting.

The ticket also gives access to the adjacent rooms where an extensive collection of religious gadgets is collected. Including the most beautiful images we have ever seen. Also to visit is an eerie burial vault.

A lot of stairs take us up to the Miradouro da Vitoria. This private terrace on the hillside is generously shared by the owner with tourists. We enjoy a beautiful view over the terracotta roofs of the old town.

The Ribeira district is dotted with atmospheric restaurants along the Douro. During the day it is pleasantly busy here. In the evening, this place comes to life with its beautiful facades, nice terraces, street artists and cozy lighting. If you follow the Douro to the West, you will reach the Atlantic coast.

We drop out at Museu Romantico where you can see for € 2.20 how people lived at the end of the 19th century. The terrace next to the museum offers a beautiful view over the Douro Valley.

Adjacent to the museum is a large city park: Jardins do Palacio de Cristal. The gardens are somewhere between lush romance and a tight French influence and are definitely worth a visit. The palace, after which the gardens are named, was demolished in the 50s and replaced by an incredibly ugly sports hall.

Nearby you will find another ugly modern building: Casa da Música looks like a crashed spaceship.

When we return to the city center we decide to hurry. We see a romantic sunset on the upper deck of the Ponte Luis I. Although many people gather here to enjoy this spectacle together, everyone can get a perfect place. The sun is slowly sinking behind the hills of the Douro Valley. The picturesque facades of Ribeira show even warmer colors in the evening light. After sunset you have a beautiful view of the pleasantly lit city from the bridge.