Private tours in Lisbon & surroundings
|
|
|
Oporto - full day
Personalized booking
Program
We leave Lisbon through the highway towards North. Before reaching Oporto, we can stop in Coimbra for
a comfort stop and a quick sightseeing. We begin our tour of Oporto with a stop in the south bank of the
river, at the top of a Hill, near Serra do Pilar Monastery, for a view of Oporto. Free time in Santa Catarina
street (pedestrian shopping street) for lunch. Oporto has carefully preserved its architectonic treasures,
including monuments (palaces and churches) in the Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassic styles. It’
s the second biggest city in Portugal, capital of the North, with a peculiar architecture characterized by
granite dark buildings embellished by other colours.
We'll drive by the famous sights of Oporto: Aliados Avenue, the Town Hall, Liberty avenue, the ancient
XII century Cathedral (stop in this medieval quarter), Batalha square, São Bento train station, Clérigos
church (XVIII century church, with one of the symbols of Oporto: Clérigos tower, 76 meters high, all in
granite), Lello bookshop, Carmo church, Miragaia quarter, Stock Exchange palace, Sao Francisco church, D.
Luis bridge, Vila Nova de Gaia section with Port wine cellars (stop for a visit with Port wine taste),
Arrabida bridge, mouth of Douro river, Boavista quarter, Music hall, Ribeira quay (close to the river, the
most typical district, with narrow streets, granite and multicoloured houses). On the return to Lisbon, you
may wish to stop at Fatima.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
...Oporto, Portugal's second-largest city and the capital of its port wine industry, with many streets unchanged since
the Middle Ages, this city along the Douro River has a remarkably unspoiled assortment of architecture. The history of
this now great city had humble beginnings. The Romans gave the place the name of "Portocale”. The Moors later
occupied it in the early 8th Century. It was later captured in the name of the Christian army in 982. The place only
expanded during the Period of the Discoveries when Portugal became Europe's central point in trade. In the 15th
Century the town was one of the ship building centres in Portugal. The city has a number of distinctive atmospheres
and this is very evident when comparing the various parts of the city. As would be expected of such an important city it
is full of fascinating buildings. Oporto is full of charm with many art treasures, striking cathedrals, waterfront cafes
and bars and an atmospheric riverside Ribeira quarter. Despite being predominantly industrial, Oporto thrives on its
history, culture and wine…
|
|
|
|
