Spain & Portugal Travel Part IV: Porto
Spain & Portugal Travel Part IV: Porto
Porto
Day 4 Thursday, 25 October 2018
On this day, we continued our journey from Salamanca in Spain to Porto in Portugal which is 340 km west of Salamanca and the journey would take 4 hours.
As we arrived in Porto in the evening, we stayed at a hotel, Hotel Black Tulip, for a night.
Day 5 Friday, 26 October 2018
On the following day, Friday, 26 October 2018, we left Hotel Black Tulip and travelled to Porto Old Town.
Map showing the location of Porto
Visiting Porto on Day 3, Fri, 26.10.2018
Bridges over River Douro
While travelling along River Douro to Porto Old Town, we saw a few bridges crossing the river, including Flexio Bridge(1995), Infante Bridge(2003) and Luis I Bridge(1886), as shown in the photos below.
Fleixo Bridge
Fleixo Bridge crossing River Douro was built in 1995 and is 705 metres long.
Infante Bridge
Infante Bridge crossing River Douro was built in 2003 and is 371 metres long.
Luis I Bridge
Luis I Bridge crossing River Douro was built in 1886 and 172 metres long.
Luis I Bridge, a two level bridge
Luis I Bridge is a special bridge. Built in 1886 over River Douro connecting Porto City to Vila Nova de Gaia, this old bridge has two levels. The upper level is for light rail train(Metro), and the lower one for pedestrians and cars.
Diogo, a Porto local tour guide
On arrival in Porto City, we were joined by a local tour guide called Diogo. He showed us around to see a few old landmarks in the old town.
Diogo, a Porto local tour guide
Livraria Lello or Livraria Chardron Bookstore
While we were on the way to two old churches in Porto Old Town, we saw a shop with a facade that was quite different from the rest in the same row.
It had a white facade of an elegant architectural design with some simple paintings. It was a bookstore known as Lavraria Lello or Livraria Chadron Bookstore opened in 1960.
That shop was frequented by J.K. Rowling who was teaching English in Porto from 1991 until 1993. She is a famous writer who has written Harry Potter series.
Livraria Lello or Livraria Chardron Bookstore
Livrari Lello or Livraria Chardron Bookstore is a well-known bookstore and opened in 1960 in Porto, Portugal.
Carmilitas Church and Carmo Church
Soon we arrived at two churches which were very close to each other.
The left church is known as Carmilitas. It is a convent for nuns built in Classical style with a bell tower on the left in the 17th. Century.
It is separated from another church, Carmo Church, for monks by a very narrow row of houses which prevents the contact between the monks and nuns.
Carmo Church was built in Baroque style in the 18th. Century.
Carmilitas Church and Carmo Church
Carmilitas Church(left) was built in 17th. Century and Carmo Church in 18th. Century
Interior of Carmilitas Church
The interior of Carmilitas Church is long. Its woodcarvings and the altar are richly gilded with gold.
Interior of Carmilitas Church
Rich gold-gilded interior of Carmilitas Church, Porto
Coffee Time
After visiting the two churches, we crossed the road in front of them to one of the cafes to have coffee.
Cafes
Cafes opposite Carmelitas and Carmo Churches, Porto
Assorted Pastries at a Cafe
A cafe had assorted pastries which were mouth-watering as shown in the two photos below
.Assorted Pastries
Assorted pastries at a cafe opposite Carmelitas and Carmo Churches, Porto
More assorted pastries at a cafe opposite Carmelitas and Carmo Churches
After coffee we took a long walk to Freedom or Liberty Square
Statue of Ramalho Orthigao(1836-1915)
On the way to Freedom or Liberty Square we came across a statue in Cordoana Garden. It was a statue of a famous Portuguese writer, Ramalho Orthigao(1836-1915).
“The Mystery of the Sintra Road” and “As Farpas” were among his notable writings.
Ramalho Orthigao(1836-1915)
Statue of Ramalho Orthigao(1836-1915). Orthigao was a well-known Portuguese writer.
University of Porto
Then we passed by a large building which was University of Porto.
The university was founded in 1911 and is the 2nd. largest by number of enrolled students after University of Lisbon in Portugal.
University of Porto
University of Porto founded in 1911 is the 2nd. largest in Portugal.
Church of Clergy and Tower of Clerics(Clergy)
While walking away from the university, we saw a tall bell tower and a white building adjacent to it. The building is a Roman Catholic church known as Church of Clergy built in the 17th. Century for the brotherhood of clergy. The bell tower known as Tower of Clerics was built several years later.
Visitors can climb up the steep steps in the tower and have a breathtaking view of Porto City.
Church of Clergy and Tower of Clerics(Clergy)
Tower of Clerics is a Roman Catholic church built in Baroque style in the 17th. Century.
Freedom or Liberty Square
Soon we arrived at the Freedom or Liberty Square.
The square is in the busy business area of Porto. In the centre of the square there is a equestrian statue of King Peter IV. It is a monument in memory of King Peter IV(1798-1834).
King Peter IV was the supporter of constitutional monarchy. He played a very important role in Liberal Wars(1828-1834) in which he defeated his younger brother, Miquel(1802-1866), who supported absolute monarchy. After the war in 1834, Portugal restored the constitutional monarchy.
Freedom or Liberty Square
Freedom or Liberty Square in a busy business area of Porto City that has a statue of King Peter IV in its centre
Court and Chain of Relation
A historical building can be seen near the Liberty Square. It was built in 1767 to house the Court and Chain of Relation. Besides, it was used as a prison until 1974 when Portugal returned to democracy.
Portuguese Photography Centre
In 1997 the Portuguese Photography Centre took over the building of Court and Chain of Relation to safeguard, value and promote the photographic heritage of Portugal.
Court and Chain of Relation
This building was built in 1767 and housed the Court and Chain of Relation. Then it housed the Portuguese Photography Centre since 1997.
Douro Fort or Foz Castle
On the way to Prince Henry the Navigator Square and River Douro Valley from Liberty Square, we saw a fort near the river-mouth of River Douro. It was built in the 16th. Century to protect the port of Porto from being attacked by Spanish fleets from the north. It is called Douro or Foz Castle.
Douro Fort or Foz Castle
Douro Fort was built in the 16th. Century to protect the Douro Port
Streets of Old Town of Porto
As we passed through the old city we noticed that its streets were narrow and lined with old buildings of a few storeys. Some of the roads were cobble-stoned.
A Street of Old Town of Porto
A narrow street in Old Town of Porto
Old houses in Old Town of Porto
Old houses in Porto Old Town
A cobble-stone street in Porto Old Town
A cobble-stone street in Porto Old Town
Churches in the Old Porto City
There are a few old churches in the city. Among them is Church of the Third Order of St. Francis, a Roman Catholic church on a low hill.
It was built in Gothic style with a large rose window on its facade between 1383 and 1425.
Church of the Third Order of St. Francis
Church of the Third Order of St. Francis, a Catholic church on a low hill in Porto old town
Heritage Trams
In the Old City of Porto, we also noticed that old trams or heritage trams run by electricity were still in operation.
Trams in the city were first pulled by mules, then powered by steam engines and now by electric motors.
Heritage Tram
Trams in Porto were first pulled by mules, then powered by steam engines and later by electric motors.
Prince Henry the Navigator Square
After passing through the picturesque Old City of Porto, we arrived at the Prince Henry the Navigator Square.
Prince Henry the Navigator Square
Statue of Prince Henry the Navigator in the centre of a square
Monument of Prince Henry the Navigator
Erected in the centre of the square is a monument in memory of Prince Henry the Navigator(1394-1460).
Prince Henry played an important role in the early development of Portuguese maritime exploration in the 15th. Century. The period from the 15th. until 18th. Century was known as the Age of Discovery or Expansion.
He sponsored some voyages that led to the discovery of Medeira Islands and other islands off the coast of West Africa, and also some coastal areas in West Africa. He was considered as the initiator of the interest in overseas discovery in Europe.
Monument of Prince Henry the Navigator
Monument in memory of Prince Henry the Navigator(1394-1460).
Buildings around the Square
There are a few important buildings around Prince Henry the Navigator Square, including the following:
Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Nicholas which was built in the 18th. Century is a small church in Baroque-Classical styles.
Church of St. Nicholas
Church of St. Nicholas built in the 18th. Century
Stock Exchange Palace
Stock Exchange Palace was built in Neoclassical style in the 19th. Century. It is now the seat of the Commercial Association.
Stock Exchange Palace
Stock Exchange Palace in the background was built in the 19th. Century and a monument of Henry the Navigator in the foreground
Church of St. Francis
Church of St. Francis is adjacent to the Stock Exchange Palace. It was built in Gothic style in the 15th. Century.
Church of St. Francis
Church of St. Francis built in the 15th. Century with the Stock Exchange Palace built on its burnt-down site
Rebeira Walk
Then we walked down a short distance to a waterfront of River Douro known as Rebeira Walk.
Standing on the waterfront, we saw a beautiful scenery. It was a picturesque view of River Douro on our right, Luis I Bridge over the river in the distance, tourists and foodstalls(cafes) on Rebeira Walk, and old. traditional and colourful shophouses on a higher ground on the left.
Rebeira Walk
Rebeira Walk, a waterfront along River Douro is a popular tourists’ spot in Porto
Colourful Shophouses
Colourful, rectangular houses along riverside of River Douro
Lunch on Rebeira Walk
As it was lunch-time, my wife, a tour-mate, Roland, and I had lunch together at one of the waterfront cafes. The prices of food and drinks were pricey, but we had no choice as we were hungry.
Writer and wife at a cafe
Writer and wife waiting for lunch at a cafe on Rebeira Walk, Porto
Writer and wife sharing lunch
Writer and wife sharing black noodle and salad for lunch at a cafe on Rebeira Walk, Porto
Writer and tourmate, Roland, having lunch
Writer and tourmate, Roland, having lunch on the waterfront of River Douro, Porto
River Boat Cruise
There is a place at Rebeira Walk where tourists can embark in boats for a river cruise.
Old traditional cargo boats known as Rabelos are now used for carrying tourists for river-cruises.
A river cruise may start from Rebeira Walk to the river-mouth of Douro, into the Atlantic Ocean and back. It goes under six bridges crossing River Douro and tourists on board can enjoy the quaint sights along the river.
River Douro boat cruise from Rebeira Walk
Tourists go for River Douro boat cruise from Rebeira Walk
Next Destination
We left Rebeira Walk and went to Hotel Black Tulip in Porto to stay for a night.
The following day we would leave for the next destination, Lisbon, which is 320 km in the south of Porto.(Time for the journey: 3 hours 30 minutes)
Previous(Salamanca) / Home / Next(Lisbon)
Places visited during Spain & Portugal Tour(22 Oct-02 Nov 2018):
Toledo Madrid Salamanca Porto Lisbon Seville Cordobo Granada Valencia Barcelona