What to do in Porto with a complete itinerary

The undefeated city

Shall we travel back in time and immerse ourselves in fairy tales? Porto is known as the undefeated city and its history is breathtaking. Knowing a little more about this history is essential for an itinerary in Porto full of surprises. So sit back, here comes history and lots of cool tips on what to do in Porto.

Medieval streets and alleys, museums, tiles, historical characters, pirates and, of course, lots of wine. Port wine!

After all, who hasn't heard of this drink of the gods? The famous Port wine really is a delicacy that should be more than enjoyed.

Well, before I talk about all these wonders, I'll tell you a little about the history of this incredible city.

History of Porto

Porto is known as the undefeated city. But this is not just because it has participated in wars with the world's greatest empires, but because of something that is linked to Brazil.

This title was given by Queen Maria II herself, daughter of Pedro IV (Pedro I of Brazil) in recognition of her efforts during the liberal struggles.
D. Maria II complied with her father's wishes and ordered new elements to be added to the coat of arms, including the title of "invicta" for the city of Porto.

But what do you mean, Cris? What does this have to do with Brazil? The siege of Porto lasted more than a year, the city was besieged, suffered from war, hunger and disease, but remained strong and undefeated by defending the liberal ideals of Pedro. While his brother Miguel tried to seize power in favor of the absolutist forces. Of course, there's no way not to mix this war with the history of Brazil.

Let me explain:

Portugal decided to move its empire to Brazil in order to continue ruling the country, a great strategy for Napoleon not to be able to take over Portuguese power. However, this didn't stop Napoleonic troops from trying.

After that, Portugal was still the victim of three French invasions, which were expelled by Luso-British troops. Napoleon tried so hard, but was unable to take Porto. I said that Porto was crazy, it really is the undefeated city!

Well, to continue the story, in 1820, in Porto, there was a liberal revolution, which made it necessary to create the Constitution of 1822, demanding the return of the court to Portugal.

Absolutism vs. Liberalism

D. João IV, the monarch of the time, returned to Portugal and left D. Pedro IV (Pedro I of Brazil) in Brazil. Pedro IV (Pedro I of Brazil), who ended up proclaiming Brazil's independence of Brazil.

In Lisbon, João IV follows the constitution, where the king plays a symbolic role, but four years later João IV dies and everything begins to change.
D. Pedro I of Brazil was now Emperor and could not rule two nations. This would be easily solved if D. Pedro abdicated the throne of Brazil or if D. Miguel, his brother, did not ascend the throne. Pedro abdicated the throne of Brazil or if Miguel, Pedro's brother, was not an avowed supporter of absolutism, so if he ascended the throne, the constitution would be in danger! A lot of negotiation took place until a solution was reached.

D. Pedro IV decided to abdicate his Portuguese throne to his daughter Maria da Glória (Maria II), who was only 7 years old. In the meantime, in 1826, he drew up the Constitutional Charter of 1826, replacing the Charter of 1822, and tried to reconcile the absolutists and the liberals by leaving his brother Miguel as regent for Maria II.

But King Miguel was thirsty for power and his absolutist ideal couldn't wait. He convened traditional courts, annulled the monarchy and crowned himself an absolutist king!

Porto's strength

A perfect move, if Porto and D. Pedro IV weren't so strong. As soon as Pedro I of Brazil learned of this betrayal, he abdicated the Brazilian throne, leaving his son Pedro II of Brazil in power as Emperor of Brazil and returned to Portugal to lead the movement for the restoration of the constitutional monarchy in Portugal.

It was a very complicated period that lasted a little over a year, from 1832 to 1833, but Porto remained strong and faithful throughout! The Cidade Invicta protected the liberalist ideal and stood by D. Pedro, even through hunger, disease and, of course, a lot of war.

After that, D. Pedro IV said that his heart would always be in Porto and so it is to this day. When he died, his daughter D. Maria II gave her father's heart to the city, leaving it in the Igreja da Lapa where it remains to this day.

It's a beautiful story, isn't it? Did you ever imagine that Porto and Brazil had such a tangled history? I only had this happy surprise when I got to know the beauties of Porto in depth.

And now that you know a little more about this beautiful story, I'm going to tell you what to do in Porto with a complete itinerary. A real guide full of surprises and connections with Brazil.

São Bento Station

São Bento station goes far beyond a simple train station, or comboio, as the Portuguese call it.

It is a true work of art with more than 20,000 hand-painted tiles! As soon as we entered, we were amazed by the wealth of detail and the grandeur of the history depicted on its walls.

Tradition is marked in those tiles, from royalty to the countryside, it's beautiful! If you can start your tour of Porto at this station, don't think twice! Go to São Bento Station even if you don't need a train, it's truly amazing and should be on your list of things to do in Porto.

Cathedral of Porto

Every European city has a Cathedral that catches the eye and Porto is no different. The Cathedral is really nothing more than a majestic and grand cathedral. A Porto Cathedral is on top of a hill, with a privileged view of the city and a beautiful sunset. city and a beautiful sunset.

The Porto Cathedral, like many others around Europe, is a veritable tangle of centuries-old architecture in the same complex. Its construction dates from the 17th to the 20th century, with many stories engraved on its walls.

The Cathedral of Porto is very important and was once the scene of a royal wedding, where King João I and Queen Filipa were married in 1387. A visit to this monument should not be left out of your itinerary and tips on what to do in Porto.

Ribeira

Of course, I couldn't fail to mention the Ribeira, one of the key points of the city of Porto! Full of culture and clothes hanging in the windows on the banks of the Douro.

The atmosphere of the Ribeira is full of good energy, with many restaurants and musicians livening up the place, it's hard to resist the temptation to sit and enjoy the place for many minutes.

Sit and feel, and if you like, take the opportunity to try a francesinha, a typical Porto dish.

Iron Bridges Louis I and Maria Pia

The iron bridges that cross the Douro and connect Ribeira to Vila Nova de Gaia are beautiful. Both were built in the 19th century and their architecture takes your breath away.

Surely you've seen a photo of the Louis I Bridge, one of the symbols of the city! Its marvelous architecture and beauty was finished by a student of Gustave Eiffel, that's right! Did you recognize the name? Gustave was the same person who created the Eiffel Tower, another world-famous monument.

You can cross the bridge on foot and the sight of the golden Douro at your feet is simply delightful! As a person who is terrified of heights, I forgot all about this landscape and was stunned by its beauty.

Port wine

Of course, there's no shortage of wine on the itinerary. Oba, Port wine! But what makes this wine so famous? Its richness, intensity of aroma and unparalleled diversity. In addition to its high alcohol content, between 19 and 22%.

I had the pleasure of visiting the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia and trying the Ruby, Tawny, white, rose and others.

It's a very pleasant walk and finding a good cellar isn't difficult. There are several ways to taste this marvel, from a simple tasting accompanied by snacks to a complete visit to the laboratory of the Douro and Port Wine Institute.

Cable car

After the cellars go straight to the cable car, it's really close and seeing the city from above is a great privilege.

Right next to the Douro River, where the sunset turns it golden with a more than magical moment. In fact, does the name Douro come from this beautiful moment?

It's a quick ride, but one that stays in our minds forever.

Rua de D. Hugo Archaeological Site

Right in the heart of Porto's historic center, you can travel back in time and learn about the first human occupations in the city.

There are 20 archaeological layers and a depth of three meters!!! If you like history and archaeology, this is a must-see and should not be left off your list of things to do in Porto. I told you that this would be a guide full of tips on the undefeated city.

Clérigos Tower

A beautiful tower in the middle of Porto. It's almost impossible not to notice the majestic tower that for many years was the tallest building in Porto. There are many steps to get to the top, but it's worth every effort - the view of the city from the top is beautiful.

The Clérigos Tower has had a number of functions over the years. As well as being a bell tower, it has been used to mark time, as a commercial telegraph and even as an orientation marker for ships. Many other functions came with time and it was even used as a strategic point for military and political battles.

Churches and tiles

The port has many churches, but some stand out for the beauty and rich detail of their tiles.
For me, the most beautiful of them is the Capela da Alma or Capela de Santa Catarina, located in the parish of Santo Ildefonso, simply beautiful!

Allow yourself to explore the city in a variety of ways and discover a treasure around every corner!

Lelo Bookshop

Who hasn't heard of the story of Harry Potter? But what does this have to do with Porto? This city is wonderful, isn't it? Don't worry, I'm going to surprise you even more about what to do in Porto and its thousand stories.

And if you visit the bookshop, you'll know this for sure - look at the wonderful staircase there =) It wasn't just the bookshop, which dates back to 1906, that served as inspiration. Have you seen the robes of the University of Porto? Well then! If you're a fan of this magical series of books, be sure to include the bookshop in your list of things to do in Porto and fill your itinerary with magic.

Museum of Sacred Art and Archaeology

Can you imagine seeing how prehistoric people lived with their real artifacts? In this museum you can!
With an incredible collection ranging from prehistoric times to the Roman period and sculptures from the 12th to the 18th century.

Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square or Boavista Roundabout

A Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque is the largest square in the city of Porto. It is also popularly known as the Rotunda da Boavista. É this square stands an incredible monument that lives up to the name of the city!

There is a monument commemorating the victory of the British Portuguese army (lion) over Napoleon (eagle). It's worth remembering that Napoleon was defeated by an English or British Portuguese army

The Earth is small, but its strength is enormous!

Serralves Park

It's a huge green area, with 18 hectares of well-kept plants, trees and gardens. It's a delight to stroll around and, of course, take lots of photos too.

Oops, have you ever seen a giant shovel? Use your creativity and take lots of photos as if you were tiny.

Also take the opportunity to visit Casa de Serralves, on the same estate. Located on the former estate of the Count of Vizela, it is considered a unique example of Art Deco architecture in Portugal.

Fort of St. Francis Xavier

The fort dates back to the 17th century and served as protection against pirates, WOW! That's right! What a fascinating place of kings, queens and pirates! It really is a fairytale.

This also has an archaeological route, where you can see one of the oldest of the oldest rocks in Portugal.

Sea Life

It's a huge aquarium with 700,000 liters of water! Of course, anyone traveling with children can't miss it.

There are many species present at Sea Life, together in its magical tunnel! Sea Life in Porto is very concerned about carbon emissions, I thought it was cool that they have a carbon positive initiative, but what does that mean? They've filled their roofs with solar panels, they've also reduced their energy consumption, and they've ended up making their consumption completely sustainable!

WOW! World of wine

The World of Wine is located in the historic heart of Vila Nova de Gaia, and if you're going to Porto and want to know more about wine, cork, fashion and even more about the history of the city of Porto, you can't miss this place.
The entrance to the central square of WOW is free and there are plenty of restaurants to choose from. We chose Golden Catch, which specializes in fish and is simply delicious! The view is the perfect match for the palate, providing a unique experience.

I suggest that on your visit to the city, you spend at least one afternoon in this space to enjoy the sunset with a spectacular view of Porto and taste some great wine.

Visit the museums and learn through play in their completely interactive spaces! In the chocolate museum, for example, you can make your own chocolate bar or taste a delicious wine at the end of your visit, where you can learn all about the history of this liquid of the gods.
At the Porto Museum, it's amazing how much you can learn without feeling it. There's even a movie theater with incredible documentaries to further enrich the city's history.

Museums:

• The Wine Experience - Wine
• Planet Cork - Cork
• Porto Region Across The Ages - History of the city of Porto
• The Chocolate Story - Chocolate
• The Bridge Collection - Glass collection
• Porto Fashion & Fabric Museum
  

Palácio da Bolsa or Palácio da Associação Comercial do Porto

Without a doubt, it has to be one of the things to do in Porto. It's a beautiful building from 1842! It's a mixture of architectural features, from 19th century neoclassical to English neo-Palladian and even Tuscan architecture.
Its staircase is marvelous and its rooms are incredible, even more so when you realize that not everything you see is real, many of the woods in the room are actually plaster, incredible! The wealth of detail is astonishing. In the Arab Hall, a glittering and beautiful room, undoubtedly the highlight of the visit!

The city of Porto is simply incredible! There are many surprises along the way, take the opportunity to get lost and be surprised in this beautiful old city, very noble, always loyal and Invicta!

See also:

• São Francisco Church, which was built between the 14th and 18th centuries.
• Largo de São Domingos
• Fores Street
• Misericórdia Church
• Puppet Museum
• Crystal Palace

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Read also:

Braga the Portuguese Roman city

Fundão - A delightful walk through the center of Portugal

Douro Verde a fertile land of literature

Beyond Serra da Estrela

Almourol Castle

All the photos in the text were taken by photographer Cristiano Silva from Midtones Photography