Porto
There’s an abundance of information about Porto on the internet. Instead of creating yet another typical city description, I’ll share what Porto reminds me of today. After a ten-day visit, there’s quite a lot to say!
Sardines. These small fish are inseparably tied to Porto. The city, located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, has benefited for centuries from the abundant catches of these fish. The Portuguese have developed a variety of recipes for preparing sardines—fresh, grilled, and even canned. Today, sardines are one of Porto’s unofficial symbols. Their images can be found on numerous souvenirs, and shops are filled with colorful cans of sardines. For example, you can buy a can with the year of your birth painted on the label. Fun fact: thanks to a kind of canned sardine exhibition in one shop, I learned that Gates and Jobs were born in the same year!
Ponte Dom Luís I. This beautiful, massive, and iconic bridge over the Douro River is located in the heart of Porto. It was designed by François Gustave Théophile Seyrig, a student of Gustave Eiffel, who designed the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You can definitely see the influence, can’t you?
Port wine is fortified wine from Portugal, made from local grapes grown in the Douro Valley. There are several popular types, and our favorites were Tawny and… Rosé—the sweet and cheapest one, haha. But Tawny is also affordable and sweet. At Biedronka, I’ve been stocking up on two-bottle packs, where one bottle costs just over 20 zł. How does it go? “Cheap, sweet, and strong wine is good because it’s cheap, sweet, and strong.”
Mercado do Bolhão is a lively, historic market and a must-visit spot in Porto. Here, you’ll find fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, cheeses, and cured meats. Of course, there are plenty of fish too, including… sardines!
Azulejos are colorful, often hand-painted tiles that adorn many buildings in Porto. Azulejos have Arabic roots, and the first ones appeared in the city as early as the 16th century. In the photos below, you’ll find a close-up of hand-painted tiles from the São Bento train station.
Historic Trams. Porto boasts one of the oldest tram systems in Europe. The first trams appeared here at the end of the 19th century, and their design quickly became one of the city’s symbols. Today, these historic trams are one of the main attractions. You can ride them from Ribeira, the city’s oldest district, all the way to the seaside beaches.
Beaches. Although Porto is, as the name suggests, a port city (a little pun there, haha), its beaches are a significant attraction. We visited two: Praia do Carneiro, a partially sandy, partially rocky beach located at the mouth of the Douro River, and the stunning Praia de Leça, where we watched a breathtaking sunset.
Drying laundry on balconies is something of a tradition here. As you stroll through the narrow streets of the city center, you’ll often see socks, underwear, and all sorts of garments hanging out to dry. I even managed to capture a moment when a lady was hanging a bedsheet above the heads of guests enjoying themselves at a restaurant below. These balconies filled with drying clothes definitely add character, though, to be fair, it’s not a feature unique to Porto.
Ribeira is one of the most iconic and picturesque districts in Porto. Situated along the Douro River, it has been the bustling heart of the city for centuries. Colorful townhouses, narrow streets, restaurants, bars, and stunning views of the river all make Ribeira a truly unique place. This part of the city is an absolute must-visit during a trip to Porto.
The cat sculpture on the corner of a building is an example of unique street art that stops everyone in their tracks. I needed so much patience to photograph this sculpture in the narrow street without other tourists walking into the frame!
Lello Bookstore. But I’ve already dedicated a separate post to it.
The Porto Waterfront. Along the Ribeira and Gaia districts, you’ll find promenades offering fantastic views of the old architecture, the Ponte Luís I bridge, and an array of restaurants, bars, and cafés. This is where you’ll find Sandeman, which I mentioned in one of my previous posts. Here, you can taste all types of Port wine, buy sardines (including chocolate ones!), and try dishes like bacalhau and francesinhas. You can also take a ride on the cable car!
So, have I convinced you to visit?