Day tours in Oporto & surroundings
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Program
Pick Up at the Hotel - “Bolhão” Market - Santa Catarina Street- Majestic cafe - Allies Avenue - Town Hall -
Cathedral - Battle Square - Henry, The Navigator Square - Mouth of Douro River - Cheese Castle - Clérigos Church
and Tower - Lello Bookshop - Carmelitas and Carmo Church - Saint Bento Train Station - Passage by D. Luiz I
Bridge - Sight from Oporto World Heritage - Riverside in Gaia - Visit Wine cellars of Port Wine - tasting - Drop Off
Hotel.
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Description
Porto, the country´s second largest city and one of Europe's most charismatic cities has carefully preserved its architectonic treasures. This is the city that
originated and named Port Wine and Portugal, famed for its riverside hills, medieval alleys, Parisian-style plazas, historic monuments and churches and a
rather enchanting atmosphere.
Many leading tourist attractions and shops in Porto are to be found off the Avenida dos Aliados and the Rua Santa Catarina.
This wide Avenue (dos Aliados) is one of the central points of Porto. The wide boulevard is surrounded by impressive Neoclassical buildings. At the head
of this Avenue is the Camara Municipal (Town Hall) and at its southern end is the Praca da Liberdade. Streets leading off the Avenue offer some of Porto
main shopping streets. To the South East of the Avenue is the Estacao de Sao Bento - Porto main train station, which is worth visiting to view the 20,000
azulejos.
Close to the Avenida dos Aliados, there’s Torre dos Clérigos, a notable tower boasting exceptional views, prominent monument and the symbol of Porto
dating back to the 18th century. Not far Lello bookshop with a neo-gothic façade, and Carmo church (has a splendid architecture).
Praça (square) da Batalha is east of São Bento station and Avenida dos Aliados, one of the main squares in Porto and is near to popular attractions.
The 12th-century Porto Cathedral – complex which also houses the Episcopal palace - resembles a fortress and enjoys a hilltop location from where you
can get your first views of the Ribeira and Vila Nova de Gaia. In Praça do Infante you can admire the Ferreira Borges market. The cathedral is just a short
walk from the Praça da Ribeira in the old medieval town that lines the River Douro and retains its medieval feel with lots of steep, narrow, cobbled streets
lined with tall brightly painted houses all topped in terracotta roof tiles.
The Dom Luis I Bridge dating back to the 19th century is on two levels, the lower part connects the Ribeira district with the area of the wine cellars in Vila
Nova de Gaia. Here we’ll go to discover the secrets of Port wine. There are 58 wine companies spread out on the river bank and we’ll comprise a visit to
one of them with Port wine tasting included.
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...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...
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