Hystory and Culture Harbor

Hystory and Culture Harbor

Porto is synonymous with great food, world known winery, and authentic charm. Even though it can be considered a small city, it doesn't go unnoticed, as those who visit it are almost always more than willing to return for a second or third time - be it for the food, the views, or the cheerful people .

Take a tour with us through Portugal‘s second largest city and get to know the narrow streets, the magnificent architecture, the traditions and culture of the city.

We´re specialized in services and unique travel experiences in Portugal. Our experience is your guarantee that we understand, meet and exceed your expectations. We invite you to experience the authenticity of a full day tour through the city of Porto

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Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product

Stop At: Torre dos Clerigos, Rua Sao Filipe Neri, Porto 4050-546 Portugal

Genuine baroque work by Nicolau Nasoni, an ex-libris monument of the city of Porto.

The Church of Clerics (Ecclesiastics) is a genuine baroque masterpiece dating from the mid-18th century. It was designed by Nicolau Nasoni, an architect of Italian origin. He stamped his mark on many monuments around Oporto and the north of Portugal. Nasoni, on his request, was buried here in a small chapel with its gateway at the same level as the top of the double bolster stairway.

The front of the church shows off its highly interesting and beautiful baroque finishing with its contours, domes and spiers worthy of closer inspection. The interior has but a single nave in granite and marble and covered in baroque carvings again demonstrating the skill of the architect. In the main chapel, attention is drawn to the polychromatic altarpiece by Manuel Porto.

However, what sets this construction apart is the Tower; Built in granite protruding out of the top of the western side of the church. This is the highly distinctive landmark of Oporto. The tower extends upwards through 75 meters of elegance forming rhythmic stages before rising to its crowning glory, the spherical clock house. The baroque decoration is completely delicate and off a wonderful lightness.

In 1917, the Tower of Clerics was successfully climbed by two Spanish acrobats, the Puertullanos, a father and son team, in front of an enormous crowd. This is a feat that, looking up at the Tower, would seem impossible.

An inner staircase (240 degrees) enables access to the top. For those wishing to avoid the feats of the Puertullanos this is the best means to gain access to one of the most beautiful panoramic views over all of Oporto.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Jardins do Palacio de Cristal, Rua de D. Manuel II corner to Rua Jorge di Viterba Fereira, Porto 4050-378 Portugal

The Romantic Gardens of Crystal Palace occupy an area of 8 hectares in Porto's center and they were designed in the 19th century by the German landscape architect Émille David, in the context of building the building of Crystal Palace (Crystal Palace). Currently, the following still remain preserved in accordance with the original project: Émille David Garden at the main entrance, Linden Avenue, the forest and the balconies' design over the Douro river. We can also contemplate magnificent panoramic views over the river and the city that the viewpoints in strategic places offer to us. It is to be noted that these gardens, making a good use of the botanic heritage and the ludic-cultural dynamics, are home to an Environmental Education Center.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Rua Cais da Ribeira Praca Ribeira, Porto 4050-510 Portugal

This area was the center of the city´s commercial life in the middle ages, thanks for the connection to the Douro River, and over the years has undergone transformations. However, the medieval constructions remain today. In the fifteenth century, this area was hit by a devastating fire, but quickly regained the image that defines it. In the 80s, archaeological works discovered a fountain of the seventeenth century (1601-1700), which is at the center of the square.

Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Igreja de Sao Francisco, Rua do Infante D. Henrique, Porto 4050-297 Portugal

The Church of San Francisco was built in the 14th century, during the reign of King D. Fernando, on the site of a modest church pertaining to the order of Franciscan Friars who had established a presence in the city of Oporto in 1223.

The layout of the Church follows the rules of the Mendicant Gothic style - with three naves, a prominent transept and a tripartite top section, with a main chapel inside. Several innovative elements were introduced, such as the decoration of balls in the window slits of the main chapel.

In the 16th century, John of Castille designed the chapel of St. John the Baptist, but it was only in the 18th-century that the main works were carried out, resulting in this magnificent Baroque church that has been preserved to the present day, and which appears to be covered in gold, due to the abundance of gilt-edged woodcarvings.

The woodcarvings inside the church include the remarkable altarpiece of the main chapel, dedicated to the Tree of Jesse, reformulated between 1718 and 1721 by Filipe da Silva and António Gomes.

Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Palacio da Bolsa, Rua Ferreira Borges S/N Um Monumento digníssimo de ser visitado e admirado, Porto 4050-253 Portugal

The Stock Exchange Palace (Stock Exchange) is one of the most important historic monuments in Porto and one of the sights that should definitely be on the list of all visitors to the city.

It was built in the second half of the 19th century in the neoclassical style and was destined to become the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association, which represents the importance of this activity in the city’s history. The building began to be used as the Stock Exchange at the orders of the queen Dona Maria II in 1841, although it was handed back to the Association in 1911.

Designed by the Porto architect Joaquim da Costa Lima Junior, the building is quite remarkable in architectural terms, making unmistakable references to English Palladianism and other buildings in the city, such as the St. Anthony's Hospital designed by John Carr, the Navy Academy and Trade (Naval Academy) by Carlos Amarante (the present-day Science Faculty) and the English Factory (Factory House) by John Whitehead.

Inside, it is worth visiting the Courtyard of the Nations (the main courtyard) and the magnificent Arabian Hall. Neo-Moorish in style, this is a unique space of great decorative wealth created by Gonçalves and Sousa in 1862. It was here that the most important official ceremonies in the city were once held, with receptions being organized for many of the world's leading statesmen . It is now used for cultural events.

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Porto Cathedral (Se Catedral), Terreiro Se, Porto 4050-573 Portugal

Porto Cathedral, like the first band of city walls, was born in the 12th century by the initiative of its first bishop, D. Hugo. The temple is also known as the church of Santa Maria do Porto, Our Lady of the Port of Eternal Salvation or Our Lady of Vandoma - which attests to the importance of the Marian cult has.

The building reached its present dimensions in the 13th century, and the following century the cloister was added on, built in Gothic style, as was the tomb of the Knight John Fat in the chapel of St. John the Evangelist.

Kings D. João I and D. Filipa de Lencastre were married in Porto Cathedral, also in the 14th century, on February 14, 1387. The people of Porto dressed in their finery and the city were covered with flowers and fragrant herbs for the celebration feast

Later, in the 17th and 18th centuries, the exterior and interior look of the cathedral was changed by baroque taste. The transformation of the portal (which still preserves the medieval rose window), the north facade and several other sites, such as the main chapel and the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, which has since been housed in a large silver altarpiece, executed by goldsmiths from Porto , stem from this period.

Various altarpieces and chapels show the Marian cult under different titles, such as Our Lady of the Crib, Our Lady of Silva, Our Lady of Mercy, Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of Expectation, Our Lady of Conception and Our Lady of Vandoma - with this being the most important, as the patron of the city and included in the municipal coat of arms since the 16th century.

Also part of this architectural thunder is the grandiose building of the Episcopal Palace, whose construction dates back to the 12th century.

Duration: 30 minutes