As interest in visiting Porto only grows stronger, visitors are finding even more things to do in the city. What was once seen for many as a short trip is becoming a longer break, with exploration outside of the city centre and into neighboring areas.
Porto may be Portugal's second largest city-after Lisbon-but it did give the country its name from the Roman Portus Cale. Centuries later, the city became famous for port, its 'divine nectar of the Gods,' tastings of which are highly recommended in any of the port lodges lining the riverside in Vila Nova de Gaia.
To see the azulejos in all their glory, start at the early 20th-century railway station of São Bento, where 20,000 hand-painted tiles by Jorge Colaço show scenes of daily life and significant moments in the country's history.
Mainly blue and white, many of the tiles in Porto tell the lives of saints or portray Portuguese history. Just a short walk away is the Church of Santo Ildefonso, where 11,000 tiles-also created by Jorge Colaço-were added to the exterior of this Baroque church.
[
Collection
]
[
|
...
]