About this experience
This tour is an opportunity to see the whole city, to look at the streets and sights from an unusual perspective and to freshen up with the Atlantic breeze! You will understand the logic of the city's neighborhoods and streets, its ancient and modern parts. I will introduce you to Porto with engaging stories about it, and an “ocean” of red tiled roofs with islands of bright facades and church bell towers, framed by the blue sky and the river, will become one of the most colorful memories of your journey.
What to expect
We will admire the city from different viewing platforms on both banks of the Douro River. And on the way from one viewpoint to another, we will visit some of Porto's landmarks.
- At the highest church bell tower in Portugal, I will tell you the most important things from Porto's history from the times of the Roman Empire to the present day.
- In the Gothic Cathedral, I will explain the distinctive features of Portuguese Baroque in church interiors and tell the story of how the Altar of the Holy Eucharist was saved from Napoleonic looting.
- In the bookstore that inspired the Magical Workshop in the Harry Potter movie, I will help you choose an album-guide to Portuguese architecture.
- On the double-decker Dom Luís I Bridge at a height of 60 m, I will tell you about the tragedy that occurred here in 1809.
- At Freedom Square, by the monument to King Dom Pedro IV, I will explain why Porto is honored with the title of “Noble, Faithful and Invincible City” and why the king's heart is kept in one of the city's churches.
- Admiring historical paintings in white and blue tile, decorating the hall of São Bento Station, you will learn about the formation of the Portuguese statehood and where the nickname “trebuchet-makers” came from the inhabitants of Porto.
- At the end of our walk, you will see Porto from the opposite bank of the Douro River, because you will cross the bridge at a height of 60 m above the river and climb to the platform at the Pilar Monastery, already in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. One of the best panoramic views of Porto and the Douro River opens from one of the port wine cellars. If you want to learn about the history of this fortified wine and its production technology, I can conduct a tour of the production with a tasting!
- I will also definitely suggest where to try local delicacies inexpensively and what to do after the tour.
If you have a slight fear of heights, you will forget about it for a while (and maybe forever) - the views of the city and the river from the viewing platforms are so beautiful!
Organizational Details
- Additional costs: ticket to the bell tower viewpoint of Clerigos (6.5 euros/person) for you, ticket for the funicular (5 euros/person) for you and the guide, ticket to the bookstore (5 euros/person) for you, port wine tasting optionally (from 10 to 30 euros per person)
- The port wine production tour with tasting lasts 1.5 hours
