Day 2 in Porto
The oldest surviving structure of Porto – the Porto Cathedral, should not be missed. The Cathedral is situated in the heart of the historic center and represents one of the main Romanesque monuments of the city. However, the Romanesque elements are combined with Baroque ones. The façade of the building lacks decorations and in general it gives the impression of a fortified church. You can get to the Porto Cathedral by walking from the Sao Bento train station, which is a historical station known for its tile (azulejo) panels that depict scenes of the history of Portugal.
Not far from the Porto Cathedral, is the church of St. Claire, hidden behind a small square, several minutes far from the Praca da Batalha. The building is of Gothic style, whose interior was covered with golden grids in the first half of the 18th century, although the church dates back from the first half of the 15th century. Also, in the interiorwe can observe the famous talhadurada, characteristic to Portuguese architecture.
Visit Clerigos Church, whose tall bell tower, the Torre dos Clerigos, can be seen from various points of the Porto and is one of its key symbols. The church was one of the first baroque churches in Portugal to adopt a typical baroque elliptic floor-plan. The monumental tower is located behind the building, being ornamented with Roman Baroque elements, while the whole design was inspired by Tuscan campaniles. The tower is 75,6 meters high, and in order to reach the top of it you will have to apply some effort and climb 240 steps.
At dusk, walk through the idyllic Crystal Palace Gardens. These are the most beautiful gardens in Porto, so no one can stay indifferent to them. Wander around with no rush and pay attention to every detail, whether it relates to texture, color, or sound. The Gardens are a part of the park that also includes the Porto Romantic Museum and the Port Wine Museum. As well, see the astonishing views over the Douro river, the Atlantic Ocean and the city itself. Of course, the main element of the Gardens is the Crystal Palace, a building in the area where the Rosa Mota pavilion currently is.
Feel Porto’s nightlife by visiting its night clubs, bars, and cafes. Almost every bar and music club is crowded, so one can be easily get lost, in all senses. If you strive to feel the vibe of the city, there is the “Radio Bar” for rock fans, “Tendinha dos Clerigos” for those directed to electronic music, and there are many more to visit like “Plano B”, “Clube 3C”, “Café au Lait”.
