We had a great week exploring Porto including the historic city center, the amazing bridges and of course the port wine. Aside from just having a wonderful and relaxing time in this beautiful city, some of the highlights were excellent grilled fish, the Serralves Art Museum, the port cellars and our one day at the NOS Pimavera Sound music festival. Andy and Craig flew down from London to join us for the weekend and we had a blast with them including heading out to the beach at Matosinhos, visiting a 14th century gothic church and sampling the various local specialties.
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Our first night in Porto there was a festival at the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art
It was a great evening of free music, food and a visit to the museum. Lots of people but not too crowded
At the Serralves festival attempting to get the gardens in the background, but mostly just a picture of us
The next day, we visited the 3rd most beautiful bookstore in the world (so our AirBnB host told us). This staircase apparently inspired J.K. Rowling when she lived in Porto
Inside the São Bento railway station
It’s famous for the entry hall panels in blue painted tiles (they are really into tiles here)
The old city center is full of winding streets leading down to the river. It’s protected as a UNESCO world heritage site
Alex at Mercearia das Flores (a cute little cafe). Note the great assortment of canned fish in the background
Kristina at Mercearia das Flores
Port and Vinho Verde were common (and delicious), but we also managed to find some local beers. Nice paired with olives
Weird paper mache (or is it papier-mâché) heads
The Dom Luís I Bridge
The next day, we stopped in at the center for Portuguese photography
It was a great old building to explore with a number of interesting exhibits
One highlight was a huge collection of old cameras, including these miniatures
Kristina bought her second souvenir of the trip – a hat from the great little shop HATS and CATS
Beautifully tiled houses
On Wednesday we took a long walk out to this second bridge and back on the other side of the river
As expected, the day ended with a port tasting
And a little less expected, a gondola ride
Looking down at the port cellars on our way to the top of the bridge
A view of the old city center
Kristina
The trams run across the top, with cars on the bottom level
The shadow of the bridge
We had a grilled meat feast at a super local restaurant that was recommended to us
On Thursday we headed out to the beach before the NOS Primavera Sound festival
This sculpture hangs above a roundabout just where we entered the festival
Getting in was a little chaotic. They lost their internet connection at the ticket office (so couldn’t check tickets for about 15 minutes). As a Roskilde veteran, Kristina chalked this up to new festival growing pains
There were 4 stages in all and a lot of interesting food to try
Alex was very excited by the super big pinwheels. Weirdly they were really hard to spin
The “best spot”, maybe not, but a good place for a break before the first bands came on
Porto
Cinemara
Mikal Cronin
Patti Smith
A view of the festival grounds in the twilight
The NOS tower
Interpol
Andy and Craig joined us on Friday
Walking across the bridge. We end up doing this a lot
See what I mean
We stopped at a bakery and bought some goodies as a late breakfast or early lunch (or whatever meal it was). You paid by the kilo – total cost EUR 3.50
Then we headed to the town of Matosinhos a short metro ride away. Andy and Craig had both heard of crazier train stunts, but still pretty nuts
It’s a fishing port just a little northeast of Porto. The local fish market was just wrapping up for the day
They also had live chickens, rabbits and pheasants and this rooster was just proweling around. Andy had a moment where he wanted to buy all the animals to set them free. But we decided that they probably wouldn’t make it very far anyway
Our lunch – grilled salmon, sardines and swordfish
It was really hot in the sun, but we had a great view of the grill master at work
Igreja de São Francisco from the 14th century. The entire inside was gilded wood work
Street art in Porto
Tram
This great old market building had been converted in to a night club. We sat on the terrace for a snack and drink on our last evening in Porto (but no, didn’t go to the club)
Wow! Looks like you had everything: friends, sun, music, art, food, beer and bridges. What’s not to like? Now you look like your are well into the spirit of 366 Saturdays!
What about the surfing?? 🙂
That’s a very good point. Sadly, we didn’t get the chance in Porto (the main beach was more for swimming) so had to save that for our next stop. Post coming soon.
I want to go back! What a wonderful couple days. I want to travel along in one of the trunks.