What is the name of the city of Porto. Portugal is a country of great navigators and the western outskirts of Europe. The resort towns of Cascais and Estoril

Porto is a city similar to an ethnographic museum. He gave the name not only to the whole country, but also to the famous fortified wine Port wine.

Porto, photo by Benjamin Gillet

Porto is a city in northern Portugal, at the mouth of the Douro River, not far from the Atlantic Ocean. In size and importance, it is listed as the second after Lisbon. The old city of Porto is located on the right bank of the river. Since 1996, it has had the status of a UNESCO site. The architecture of the old center was formed over several centuries and has been completely preserved. The city in terms of the number of attractions and beauty can compete with the capital.

Modern Porto is a developed industrial center. The city with a population of about 240,000 inhabitants has been operating a subway since 2002. Six unique bridges have been built across the Douro. Leixoes harbor is an important cargo port in the country. Porto is home to the largest university in Portugal.

How it all began

The history of the city began with a Roman settlement in the 5th century. The Portus tribe lived on the left bank of the Douro River, and Calais lived on the right bank, so the territory was called Portucale. In the VIII century, the settlement was captured by the Moors. In the 10th century, Muslims were expelled, a new Christian county arose - the possession of Henry of Burgundy (father of Afonso Henriques).

During the Age of Discovery, Porto flourished. XIII-XIV centuries is the time of cooperation between Portugal, England and other countries of the Hanseatic League. Porto was a commercial, bourgeois and industrial city. He always sought autonomy from the central government and opposed Lisbon. In the 15th century it became the center of shipbuilding. The locals have always been rebellious. There have been numerous uprisings here.

It was in Porto that the first Portuguese Constitution was adopted.

Sights of Porto

Luis I Bridge

Porto Cathedral

Church of St. Ildefonso

Modern Art Museum

Art Museum

Electric Transport Museum

Museum of Transport and Communications

Port wine museum

Cafe Majestic

Ribeira quarter, photo by Mariana Daher

The old quarter of Ribeira (Ribeira) on the banks of the river is the heart of Old Porto. Its narrow streets with colorful facades of houses are mixed up like a maze, some houses still stand on Roman foundations. Many of the buildings are beautifully decorated with azulejos, traditional blue and white ceramic tiles. It is always noisy here - numerous restaurants and cafes, colorful taverns are open until late in the evening.

Ribeira embankment, photo AN07

Cais da Ribeira is a motley promenade along the Douro River. Here you can see fragments of the ancient fortress wall and ancient cargo ships that used to transport port wine, and now “serve” as pleasure ships. On the waterfront you can take great photos and buy souvenirs.

Luis I Bridge of Eiffel's Disciple

Luis I Bridge, photo by Małgorzata Kaczor

Luís I Bridge (Ponte de D. Luís) (1886) is one of the hallmarks of Porto. This is a two-level bridge built on the site of an old stone one. The architect is the student and companion of Gustave Eiffel, Theophilus Sayrig. The lower level is for cars, it connects the Ribeira area with the cellars and wine warehouses of the satellite town of Vila Nova de Gaia. The upper one is for the metro, it links the São Bento train station area, with the upper part of Vila Nova de Gaia. Pedestrians can walk on both levels. Luis I Bridge is one of the best viewpoints in Porto. Not far from the bridge there is a funicular and the remains of the Fernandina fortress wall (XIV century).

Cathedral of Porto

Se Cathedral, photo by E Assad (Massad)

Porto Cathedral (Sé Catedral do Porto) is a temple rebuilt from a Romanesque fortress in the 12th century. Massive battlements and two imposing towers still give the cathedral the features of a defensive citadel. In one of the chapels of the temple there is a unique altar made of 800 kg of silver. In 1809, the city's defenders saved it from the Napoleonic soldiers.

episcopal palace

Bishop's Palace, photo rangaku1976

The Episcopal Palace (Paço Episcopal) is located next to the Se Cathedral. This is a two-story Romanesque building of the 12th century, reconstructed in the spirit of Baroque and Rococo.

Church of Saint Ildefonso, photo by ChihPing

Church of Santo Ildefonso (Igreja de Santo Ildefonso), XIII century. Rebuilt at the beginning of the 18th century, decorated with azulejos, more than 11 thousand tiles were used to cover the walls. Eight original stained-glass windows and an 1811 organ have been preserved in the decoration of the temple.

Clerigos Church, photo Dan

Igreja dos Clérigos is a Baroque church of the Brotherhood of Clerics, built in 1750. The main facade and tympanum are decorated with statues and reliefs, the nave of the building has an oval in plan. Attached to the church is the 76-meter Torre dos Clérigos campanile, erected in the period 1754–63. This is the highest bell tower in the country; for many years it served as a guide for sailors. On the sixth tier of Torre dos Clerigos, there is an excellent observation deck.

town hall

City Hall, photo by Diego Delso

The construction of the City Hall of Porto (Câmara Municipal do Porto) began in 1920, but it began to be used for municipal purposes only from 1957. The six-story monumental granite building has a basement, two courtyards, a 70 m high can be climbed by overcoming 180 steps. Inside are solemnly decorated halls. The interior of the building is made of marble and granite.

Freedom Square, photo by Diego Delso

Liberty Square (Praça da Liberdade) is an architectural complex of the 19th–20th centuries. in the south of Porto. Here is a monument to King Pedro IV, who granted Portugal a constitution; stands the palace of Cardosas. The Central Station (Estação São Bento) adjoins the square. And the square itself is surrounded by banks, hotels, restaurants and numerous offices.

Sau Bento Station

Sao Bento Station, photo Concierge.2C

Sao Bento Central Station (Estação São Bento) (1916) is a hymn to the beauty of the Portuguese azulejo. Magnificent panels on the walls of the building depict scenes from the most striking episodes in the history of Portugal, lined with blue and white tiles.

National Museum

Soares dos Reis, photo by Alegna13

Soares dos Reis (Museu Nacional de Soares dos Reis) - National Museum, opened in 1833, it occupies the neoclassical building of the Carrancas Palace (Palácio das Carrancas). The basis of the collection is a collection of works by the sculptor Soaris doug Reis. In addition to sculptures, there is a rich collection of Portuguese paintings of the 19th–20th centuries, a collection of paintings from the 17th–18th centuries, silver, ceramics, interior items, textiles, glass from Portugal and the countries of the East.

For connoisseurs of art and history, Porto has a wide variety of museums. Most interesting:
Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves),
art museum - house-workshop of Antonio Carneiro (Casa-oficina António Carneiro),
Museum of Electric Transport (Museu do Carro Eléctrico),
Museum of Transport and Communications (Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações),
Museum of Port Wine (Museu do Vinho do Porto).

Cafe Majestic

Majestic Cafe, photo by Lilly Darma

The Majestic Café is the city's most famous establishment and has been operating since 1921. There are pompous art deco interiors, a rich menu, a huge assortment of coffee and desserts. It is said that it was in the Majestic Cafe that the British writer JK Rowling began writing about Harry Potter.

portuguese port wine

Portugal is the birthplace of port wine (Vinho do Porto), everyone knows this. It was Porto that was the main center for the production and transportation of the "national treasure" from the 12th century. The name of the wine is protected by origin: only liqueur wines from grapes grown in the Douro Valley sold in Porto can be called "porto". The authenticity and quality of Portuguese ports are protected by the state. The origin of the drink is confirmed by a guarantee stamp issued by the Portuguese Institute of Winemaking. The city has many wineries - large and small. The most famous brand of port wine is produced by the Calem family winery. The company even founded its own museum - "Porto Calem".

Entertainment and holidays

Porto loves fun and entertainment. Carnivals, processions, costume balls are constantly held here for any reason. They are accompanied by fireworks, an abundance of treats, and musical performances.

Carnival takes place in Porto in February.

In June, St. Anthony's Day is celebrated, and the Cathedral becomes the center of events these days.

On the night of June 24, locals jump over the fire and set off fireworks - this is how the Catholic feast of the birth of St. John (São João do Porto) is held.

In September, the city hosts the International Puppet Theater Festival - the audience comes from all over Europe.

House of Music, photo Marinhopaiva

A large-scale House of Music was built in the city; transparent walls were erected in two of its halls.

Nightlife in Porto is also rich. The city has many nightclubs where you can have fun and relax. Most of these establishments are located on the Ribeira promenade and in the suburbs of Matosinhos.

Lovers of nature and leisurely walks will appreciate the Botanical Garden, the oldest in Portugal.

What's with the weather?

Winter in Porto is warm and mild, the temperature is around +14°C. Summer is quite hot and humid, the air warms up to +25°C. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in winter. August is considered to be a comfortable and warm month. The average water temperature in summer is +17°.

What is a typical meal?

Portuguese cuisine is simple and satisfying, it is also called "peasant". It uses fish, seafood and meat, and is usually garnished with rice and vegetables. Be sure to try: beef giblets; feijoada (a dish of meat, rice and red beans); mashed potato soup with cabbage; stewed cod with peas; baked trout; caviar from olives. From the exotic: monkfish, wolf perch, goat cheese with a thick crust.

Almost all sweet dishes are prepared with the addition of almonds and cinnamon. Desserts include a variety of cakes and pastries, mousses and puddings, crispy biscuits and fruit salads.

Souvenirs

It is better to buy gifts and souvenirs for relatives and friends in the shops on Santa-Katarine Street. It is there that there are many souvenir shops, street markets and antique shops.

The most popular gift from Porto is a bottle of Portuguese port wine. It is worth paying attention to ceramics, products made from cork oak bark, figurines of cockerels, shoes and textiles.

Transport in Porto

Vintage tram in Porto, photo by Andreas Nagel

To any city attraction, which is located within the city, the subway, consisting of three lines, will take you. This is the optimal transport for tourists in Poro.

You can also move around the city by buses and trams. Operates night transport. An alternative to public transport is a taxi.

But what you must do in Porto is to take a ride in an old tram from 1930 and see the Atlantic Ocean from its window. The interior of the tram is lined with wood, the driver drives the car while standing, because there are no seats.

September 15th, 2012 02:11 am

A year ago I was planning this trip, but last year the choice fell on the Canary Islands and Portugal was postponed.
But this year, Portugal finally came true. After crawling through blogs and travel sites, three cities were chosen: Porto, Lisbon and Albufeira. The latter was chosen exclusively for a beach holiday, where in the summer without swimming and sunbathing.
My first story will be about the second largest city in Portugal - Porto.

Let's start with the route. In my opinion, this is the best tarectori for making some idea about this country.
By the way, A=G=Lisbon. Google put the dots one on top of the other and came out such parsley.

How we got to Porto is another story. Since the plane landed in Lisbon very late and there were no trains to Porto at that time, I had to get there by Rede Expressos bus. Run-run, but we made it.
And voila - the city of Porto.
Our hotel was located in the center of Batalha Square. So in the morning we had a beautiful view of the Church of San Ildefons, streets flooded with sun and crowds of tourists.
I tried to keep a lot of people out of the frame, so the streets look more or less deserted.

The first thing that struck me was the Church of San Ildefons, the pearl of the square. It is all covered with tiled tiles characteristic of Portugal.
These tiles are called azulejos and are of Arabic origin. Their number in Porto is huge, from afar they are very reminiscent of Gzhel and tiles on Russian stoves.
It is interesting that they depict not just a repeating ornament, but various plots and characters.
It is very pleasing that azulejos was not taken away for souvenirs, otherwise it would be tempting to peel off.

Imbued with the Portuguese spirit, I endlessly clicked the streets going uphill and downhill.
Such differences are very atypical for flat Petersburg, so it is interesting to look at such outlandish landscapes.

When traveling in Portugal, you need to remember about comfortable shoes. The sidewalks are paved with very smooth paving stones, and the ups and downs increase the slip. And of course, you need to take into account the huge walking distances. I lost one pair of shoes in Porto while walking and had to walk barefoot part of the way to the hotel.
Although the sidewalks look very elegant.

Despite the fact that Porto is the second largest city in Portugal, it does not feel like Lisbon.
It is good to wander here, bumping into various architectural monuments without following the map.
A special chic is given by hanging linen everywhere. All colors and sizes. In every house, in the center and in the lanes.
The feeling of neglect of Porto still did not leave me. On each street, several houses stand dilapidated or abandoned, with their windows sealed up. There was a feeling that people were leaving the city, although it can be deceiving and it's just another "raisin" of Porto.

Probably one of the features of Portugal that comes to mind is trams. Not even - trams.
Such a hello from the past. Although they look very decent, almost like new.
If you wish, you can make a trip on this type of transport. But when I looked at the crowd, crowded there like sprats, I had no such desire.
Well, he's cute, right?

For me personally, Hop-on Hop-off buses have become an excellent alternative to excursions, even I would say a more advantageous option. They, as a rule, have an audio guide in Russian, if it is not available, it is always available in English, free wifi and a great view from the second floor. Usually we do the first lap to get acquainted with the sights, and on the second lap we get off at our favorite places for photographing and walking.

We started our flight from Praça da Liberdadi, where Monument to King Don Pedro IV.
Freedom Square crowns the City Hall. In my opinion, it is very reminiscent of Wenceslas Square in Prague.
(Of course, I'm wildly sorry, but every time there was a mention of Don Pedro, I was reminded of the domestic film "Hello, I'm your aunt!". I could not resist, so as not to remember. :))

By the way, one more small detail. On Freedom Square is one of the most luxurious McDonald's I have seen. It looks like there used to be a restaurant there. The eagle would somehow be more typical of Germany. Inside, the room is also designed in the imperial-ceremonial style.

On sightseen buses, I like to sit on the second floor, of course. I sit high, I look far away + you get sunbathing. True, in Porto, on some streets, the trees are low, you have to bend down.
In the photo below, on the left, by the way, is the municipal building with a 70-meter bell tower.

The bus route ran along the ocean coast, so for the first time in Porto I saw the ocean washing the shores of Portugal. The weather was quite hot, so tourists and locals rested on the beaches. Young people preferred more extreme ways of cooling off, jumping from a heliport at the mouth of the Douro River, on which Porto itself stands.

By the way, the views of the city here are wonderful: houses hang one above the other and, of course, garlands of linen to dry.

On the other side of the river Douro, as we were told, the best fish restaurants. In general, judging by the number of fishing boats, there is definitely fish here.

Since we went to the river, it is impossible not to stumble upon HIM! Of course, I'm talking about the two-level bridge of King Luis I. It connects the Ribeira area with the cellars and wine warehouses of the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. Well, it was built according to the project of the student and companion of Gustave Eiffel Theophile Seyrig. Actually there is something in common.
Attention, many, many photos of the bridge!

The bridge is majestic, there are many of them. And having clicked it during the day from all sides, you certainly need to repeat the same thing at sunset and at night. By the way, in the pre-sunset hours, the light is the most advantageous in my opinion.

Of course, this colossus is not the only bridge across the Doura.
I don’t know the names of the next one (can anyone tell me?), But it looks impressive, yeah.

And the bridge, who would have thought ... Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, named after the wife of King Luis I. Romantic, charmer. Well, the whole family.

Views can be viewed from the bank from the side of Ribeiraio by climbing to the top on the lift or from the funicular on the other side.
True, the funicular is nothing special. The windows are somehow stained, the view from the bridge or the shore from the top is definitely better. Better save up money for port wine :).

Well, since I said this magic word (“port wine”, I mean), then we need to develop this topic.
I think it is not difficult to guess that the word "port" comes from the name of Porto.
So, the main concentration of warehouses and cellars with this drink is in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, on the left bank of the Douro.
If you want to taste, there are no questions - welcome. And yes, it's very nice to wander around here. Then sit down somewhere on the shore and sharpen the sardines.
To be honest, I had a prejudice against port wine, I had never tried it before, but I heard enough negative reviews. True, it was about portaine, bought in our country.
It turns out that there are several categories of port wine tawny, brankco, ruby, vintage, etc.
I don't brag. that I tried everything, but tasted 3-4 varieties.
By the way, with a certain variety, it is advised to consume certain snacks: nuts, jam, ham with melon, fruits, lemon pie, etc.

By the way, from here you have a great view of the opposite shore.
Places are directly created for photosets. The houses are poked one on top of the other and there are crowds of walking tourists.
Having looked at all this, we rather hastened to cross the bridge, to join the evening bustle.

And a few words about what is on the other side - Ribeira.
This area is filled with narrow winding streets and dilapidated houses.
There was an impression that life here is by no means prosperous and people are slowly leaving this place.
But there is good news - the area is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it seems that it is being slowly restored.

By the way, one of the most beautiful railway stations in Europe, Sao Bento, is located in Porto.
The walls are tiled with blue and white azulejos tiles. The largest of them is made of 20 thousand tiles and decorates the waiting room. The painting depicts episodes from the history of railways.

Another interesting fact: the symbol of Portugal is the Barcelos rooster. Rooster Barcelos is fried, so it is always black. Such cockerels can always be purchased in any souvenir shop in Portugal, its image can be found almost everywhere.

In conclusion of this part, I will add: in order to see Portugal, it is still worth visiting Porto. It has the charm of a small town and is completely different from other places in Portugal.

Perhaps the most striking and memorable place in Portugal is the city of Porto. It was Porto that gave the name to the country of Portugal, because it was once the capital of the country. From him, the drink port wine got its name. In general, Porto is the capital of the country's wine industry. When people talk about Portuguese wine, they mean the wine of Porto.

Walking through the labyrinth of narrow streets, between houses built in the Art Nouveau and Baroque styles, you can enjoy the splendor and color of this ancient city. On a bright, sunny day, the city literally glows with joy and fun. And when, from the side of the river, fog creeps into Porto, the city seems to be covered with a damp blanket, turning it into a gloomy and mysterious place.

Porto is the second largest city in the country and its former capital. It is the largest city and port in northern Portugal. It is located 270 kilometers from Lisbon - the modern capital of Portugal. As the center of the municipality and district of Porto, this city is located on the right bank of the Duero River and covers an area of ​​42 square kilometers. Porto is divided into five historical districts, each of which has its own unique beauty. The population of the city is 240,000 inhabitants, most of whom are Portuguese. The food industry is developed, especially winemaking and fish canning. As well as mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, clothing and chemical industries. In addition, Porto is an important cultural and educational center, with a major university.

The history of Porto begins in the 5th century, when the Romans came here and founded the city of Portus Calais, which later gave the name to the entire region - Portugal. In the VIII century, the city was captured and plundered by the Moors. The city became Moorish until the 10th century, when it was conquered by Henry of Burgundy, who founded the county of Portucalia here, which later became a kingdom. To strengthen the power of Christians, by order of Henry of Burgundy, in 982, the construction of the Cathedral began in Porto. In 1050, Porto became the main trading port of the region, on the way of important trade routes. And in 1147, Bishop Hugo announced a crusade against Lisbon, to free the future capital of the country from the power of the Moors.

In order to successfully fight against their main enemy and rival, Castile, in 1386 the Treaty of Windsor with England was signed in Porto, which completely untied the hands of English merchants. They forced the authorities of Porto in 1703 to sign a trade treaty giving the British a complete monopoly on Portuguese port wine. In the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, when Portugal becomes the starting point for the exploration of new lands, Porto becomes an important shipbuilding port.

Throughout its history, Porto has been distinguished by its freedom-loving and wayward character. The trade guild has always held the main power here. And until the XVII century in Porto there was a ban on the construction of aristocratic palaces in the city. Moreover, the law even applied to the King of Portugal. The townspeople even managed to force the authorities to make concessions to some civil liberties, and the Inquisition in Porto had very little power. Periodically, major uprisings and riots broke out in the city. It was in Porto that the first liberal party was formed, whose goal was to overthrow the monarchy. In 1822, the first Constitution was proclaimed in Porto. And soon, the first uprising of the Republicans broke out here against the power of the dictator Salazar.

The weather in the city of Porto is set by the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream. Thanks to him, Porto has warm and mild winters with a minimum temperature of +9 degrees Celsius. And moderate not stuffy summer with a temperature of +20 degrees Celsius.

The city of Porto has its own large airport, so it can be reached from Moscow by plane. However, with a change in Brussels, Geneva or Madrid. You can book a plane ticket to Porto via the Internet by selecting the required class and flight rates. Regular buses and taxis run from the airport to the city center. You can also rent a car, subject to the required driving experience (one year) and your age (21 years).

Before you travel to Porto, you need to make a reservation at one of the city's many hotels. Without this, you will not get a visa to the country. You can book a room via the Internet, choosing the hotel that best suits your needs and financial capabilities. All hotels in Porto differ in terms of comfort levels, rates and their location relative to the attractions of the city.

Porto has many attractions of various eras and styles, from the city's residential buildings to majestic temples. Some of the sights are protected by UNESCO.

The Clerigos Tower is called the symbol of the city of Porto, as it is the most beautiful and conspicuous building in the city, and is also the tallest tower in Portugal. The height of the Clerigos tower exceeds 75 meters, and at one time it was an excellent reference point for merchant ships entering the port. The construction of the tower began in 1754, according to the design of the architect Nicolas Nasoni, and ended in 1763. Next to the tower, stands the church of Igreju dos Clerigos, in which Nicholas Nasoni rests. This church is notable for its unusual oval shape and a huge wall-length azulejo panel.

One of the main attractions of the city is the Cathedral of Porto. The huge gray building of the cathedral stands proudly on one of the hills of the city. The cathedral was built in the XII century, and together with the walls of the city, it used to be a defensive structure of Porto. Subsequently, the cathedral was repeatedly rebuilt, and lost its original appearance, becoming the center of a mixture of styles. The high bell towers of the cathedral not only betray its impressive age, but also give it the appearance of a medieval castle. The portal of the temple, rebuilt in the 18th century, is decorated with the ancient Romanesque symbol of the rose. And the youngest extension of the cathedral is the outer gallery, rebuilt in the Baroque style by the architect Nicolo Nasoni. The interior of the Cathedral was last changed in the 18th century. The temple has a baroque altar, which took as much as 800 kg of silver to create. During the Napoleonic wars, this altar was miraculously saved from the greedy French troops. And inside the cathedral there is a picturesque courtyard with an azulejo, made in the Rococo style.

Porto's most remarkable attraction is the large number of bridges across the Dora River. What is unique about these bridges is that built in the 19th century, these bridges were technological innovations of the time. Later, the technologies used to build the bridges of Porto were used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York. Particularly unusual is the two-level iron bridge Don Luis, built in 1886.

Another notable building in the city is the Exchange Palace. The building was built in 1842 by an organization of merchants in neoclassical style. The rich interior decoration of the building is striking. The richest room of the Exchange is the "Arab Hall", decorated in the style of Arabian fairy tales. Another interesting room is the "Patio of the Nations", which displays the coats of arms of all countries that have ever traded with the city of Porto.

There are many interesting museums in Porto. For example, located in the Serralves estate, the Museum of Modern Art. Built in 1930 by the architect Alvaro Siza Vieira, in the art deco style, the building of this museum is in perfect harmony with the surrounding park. It has a large collection of contemporary works of art. Another interesting place to visit is the Quinta da Macieirinha Museum. Once the museum building was a palace where King Charles Albert spent the last months of his life. The museum is located on the second floor of the building. Carl-Albert's household and personal items are on display here, as well as antique French, Portuguese and German furniture. In addition, the museum has a collection of ceramics and tapestries. And on the first floor of the building there is the Institute of Port Wine, where you can taste various varieties of port wine.

The historical center of Porto is located on the right bank of the Douro River, a few kilometers from its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean. The city center has been declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
In the historical center of the city there is a cathedral of the 13th century. - Church of San Francisco (Saint Francis). One of the most striking sights of Porto is the baroque tower of Clerigos - the highest in Portugal - 76 meters or 225 steps. Construction under the guidance of the Italian architect Niccolo Nasoni was started in 1754 and completed in 1763. The House of Music stands out from modern buildings with its unusual shape.

And another very important attraction of Porto are its bridges.

There are many bridges across the Dora that connect Porto with the satellite town of Vila Nova de Gaia. Some of them are unique technological solutions for their time. For example, the Ponte de Dona Maria Pia railway bridge, built in 1876-1877 according to the design of Gustave Eiffel, was one of the first projects that brought its author worldwide fame. Later, the same technological solutions were used by Eiffel in the construction of the Statue of Liberty (1884-1886) and the Eiffel Tower (1889). Another unique building for its time was the two-level metal bridge Ponte de Don Luis, built in 1881-1886 according to the project of Eiffel's student and companion Theophilus Seyrig.
It was built according to the project of the student and companion of Gustave Eiffel Theophile Seyrig in 1886. Named after King Luis I.


Ponte de Don Luis is a kind of symbol of the city of Porto. His image can often be found on the labels of local port wine.
The bridge has a length of 385.25 m and weighs 3045 tons, while the length of the arched span is 172 m, and its height is 44.6 m.


Straight ahead is the Kliregush tower.




In front of us is the Church of Do Carmo. This very pretty temple in the architectural spirit of classicism and baroque was erected in the middle of the 18th century by the architect José Fgueiredo Seikas. The stone facade is decorated with sculptures of the prophets Elijah and Elisha and statues of the four evangelists by the Italian Baroque master Nicolau Nasoni. Another notable part of the decor is a huge mosaic canvas of pale blue color depicting scenes of the founding of the Carmelite Order.


































Porto was the first city in the Iberian Peninsula to have a tram service. In Porto and Lisbon, there are such small trams. Others simply will not turn around in the narrow streets of cities.


















The Clerigos Church was built by the architect Nicola Nasoni between 1732 and 1750. The church was erected specifically for the brotherhood of Clerics. Over time, the architect himself joined the Brotherhood, and after his death rests in the church crypt.
The Clerigos Tower is located behind this church, but was not included in the frame from this angle.






Church and Tower of Clerigos.






The monument to Pedro IV, the first king of Brazil and Portugal, is located on Liberty Square in the city center.


Monument to the paperboy












































The majestic and beautiful Cathedral of Se in Porto rises above the city. This is the oldest cathedral in Porto, built in the Romanesque style.
The cathedral was erected as a fortress and the whole city was built around it.
The most valuable thing in the cathedral is its altar, on which 800 kg of silver was used. A wonderful courtyard with azulejos, a large square with a magnificent observation deck, where there are viewing binoculars to admire the red roofs of the houses and the Douro River.

An interesting feature of postal addresses in Porto is that they do not have house numbers. The names of the streets, as a rule, are not written on the houses either, only at the beginning and at the end of the street. And it happens that just at the beginning of the street there is a column with a sign on which its name is written. All. It is not mentioned anywhere else.
Along the street, not houses are numbered, but front doors - entrance doors. End-to-end numbering along the entire street. You can see it in this picture - the numbers above the doors. Further, the address will read, for example: second floor, 1st apartment on the right.
And nothing, they find.
There was a case. We took a taxi and went to look at the ocean (it is 7 km from the city), namely, at sunset - how beautifully the sun sets into the sea. They let the taxi go, admired the sunset, and then decided to walk to the hotel on foot and got lost. When we tried to orient ourselves on the map, where we were, it turned out that it was completely impossible to do this. We decided that it would be better for us to look not for the place of our current location, but immediately for our hotel. Again, a bummer - the Portuguese, very friendly people, waving their arms, enthusiastically told us the way, but following the narration in Portuguese and taking advice, as it turned out, is also unrealistic. Meanwhile, things were moving towards evening, even towards night, and the question of returning home became acute. It's impossible to catch a taxi just like that - you have to call to the specified address. We saw a ballet school, went to the "light" to ask them to call us a taxi to their address (at least they know it).
It ended up that one of the ballerinas took us to the hotel in her car. Looking out the car window at the road, we realized that we ourselves would not have reached there in life, and upon arrival at the hotel there were no people happier than us.






A characteristic feature of Portuguese architecture is the tiling of buildings. This is not only beautiful, but also very useful - in summer, tiles protect houses from heat, in the off-season - from dampness. Houses in Portugal most often do not have heating, so in all seasons the laundry is dried on the street.


In this photo we see the exit to the embankment of the Douro River. I will show it in another post, and at the same time we will ride on a boat on it.


On the left is the Cathedral of St. Francis, on the right is the Bolsa Palace. The Palace of Bolsa is the Stock Exchange and also a place to come to admire the palace interiors, created by the local architect Joaquim da Costa Lima Juniordla in the middle of the 19th century for ordinary merchants. Now it is a kind of museum, where the exhibits: various sculptures, frescoes, paintings, furniture, dishes and others are specially selected and fit into the interiors of the halls. So, the Arab Hall with golden arabesques, the Courtyard of Nations under an octagonal glass dome, the Tribunal Hall, the Assembly Hall, the Golden Hall and the stairs made of granite and marble look the most attractive. Debited from the Internet, because we did not go inside. Well, maybe one of the readers will be interested and visit.

Porto is the city of port wine and football, the city of high arched bridges and bustling waterside bars, the city of ugly and dirty streets, the city that gave its name to Portugal. So much has been written about Porto that trying to tell something new is a thankless task. But still I will try and tell and show.

The city is located north of on the right bank of the Douro River, which stretches almost 900 kilometers across the entire Iberian Peninsula.

The history of the city goes back to the Romans, since that time Porto began to develop first as a port, and then as an industrial city. Moreover, over the past two millennia, it has not lost its port charm at all, but more on that below...

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and is often referred to as the northern capital.

One of the most recognizable symbols of the city is the Ponte de Don Luis bridge, built at the end of the 19th century by Theophilus Seyrig, a student of the same Gustave Eiffel. The bridge connects the two banks of the Douro River. The bridge is two-level: at the upper level, at a height of 45 meters, there is a metro line, while the lower tier, located directly above the water, is intended for cars.

But the most famous symbol of Porto is, of course, the famous fortified wine - port wine.

Port wine can only be called wine produced on the banks of the Douro River. This provision is enshrined in legislative acts of Portugal and the European Union. So the Soviet “Three Axes” and other similar surrogate liquids, of course, not only have nothing to do with the noble sweet drink, but they borrowed its name absolutely illegally.

By the way, contrary to the opinion of the majority, port wine is by no means produced in Porto - the world-famous cellars in which oak barrels of wine are aged are located on the opposite coast from Porto - in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Previously, in order not to disturb the wine by transporting it along the uneven Portuguese roads, it was transported from the vineyards to the cellars in barrels on flat-bottomed cargo boats with square sails. In memory of those times, today you can see many moored boats, just opposite the cellars. Some of the boats have been converted into restaurants, where you can endlessly sit at the tables and enjoy the fresh breeze from the Atlantic with pleasant sweet notes sparkling in a glass of fortified wine.

A few words about transport. In Porto, as well as in, old rattling trams run.

There is also more modern transport. For example, the city metro is more like a tram.

A funicular line has been laid up along the old fortress wall from the Douro bank.

The fortress wall also appeared here not by chance - at the very beginning of the reconquista, Porto occupied a border position. The border between the Muslim lands and the Portuguese county, which had just received autonomy, passed exactly along the Douro River.

The funicular runs quite rarely - the operator waits until the booth is packed with people to the eyeballs, like a jar of sprats.

And, probably, the most interesting form of public transport is the cable car connecting the area next to the Ponte de Don Luis bridge and the Douro river embankment next to the wine cellars.

Although, of course, this is no longer Porto, but Vila Nova de Gaia, but still very interesting.

And it is interesting because it is from this cable car that the best view of the historical part of Porto opens in my opinion.

The episcopal palace rises monumentally above the densely crowded residential houses.

Next to it, on a hillside, is the ancient Bairro da Se district - it is the poorest and at the same time the most picturesque quarter of Porto.

There are many small open restaurants along the waterfront that seem to be full of drunken fun around the clock.

In the meantime, it's time to look at Porto from above. The best place for this is the observation tower of the Clerigos church.

Its bell tower is the highest in Portugal. For a long time it was a landmark for ships arriving from the Atlantic.

A narrow staircase of 225 steps leads upstairs.

Let's take a breath on one of the platforms... So far we have only reached the level of the roofs.

Well, here we are at the top.

Let's look at Porto.

We see red roofs descending in ledges to the banks of the Douro. We see Vila Nova de Gaia located on the far shore. We see wine cellars occupying almost the entire opposite bank of the river.

We see neat new roofs.

We see that there are picturesque ruins right in the center of Porto.

We see that the slopes of the hills on which Porto is located are quite steep, and sometimes you need to sweat a lot to climb the many steps.

We see towering modern quarters in the distance.

We see that huge parks and squares covered with green crowns of trees go west to the Atlantic.

All. We have seen enough of Porto from above. We continue to walk the streets.

Let us pay attention to the fact that entire facades of houses can be decorated with blue tiles here.

We will feel the atmosphere of the Bairro da Se quarter, above which, like a mighty phallus, rises the bell tower of the Clerigos church, which we visited a little earlier.

The houses are tall and the streets are narrow and dirty. It is stuffy between the houses, the air seems to have frozen, having absorbed many aromas, ranging from the smells of cheap food coming from nowhere to the frank stench, so familiar from the native St. Petersburg pissed elevators. The feeling that from a civilized European country you suddenly find yourself in a poor Asian one.

Clothes are hung on the streets. From time to time, people of a very dubious appearance come across, with whom I really would not like to meet on a dark street under the cover of night.

In general - a real port city. For a larger entourage, only drunken sea wolves and cheap port prostitutes are missing. Although, maybe I just looked bad?

I look more closely, and I begin to understand that the city is amazing!