Excursion tour in Porto. Top architecture - monuments, castles, temples and palaces

Porto Ribeira Any review of the architecture of Porto would be incomplete without mentioning Porto Cathedral, Bolsa Palace, Town Hall, University of Porto, Stadium of the Dragon and many others. The virtual flight over these monuments in HD (the video is on the left), the photo galleries of Porto, and the most interesting facts about every sight – we have carefully prepared lots of useful information for you. The overview architecture map of Porto at the bottom of the page will help you not to get lost in your sightseeing routes of Porto. So, let’s go!

Porto Cathedral, Porto

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Porto Cathedral is the oldest and most revered in the city. It started to be built in 1110. An urban settlement was gradually growing around it.
»  For centuries, a lot of interesting events took place at the cathedral. In 1387, King John I and English Princess Philippa of Lancaster got married.
»  The son of John I, Henry, was baptized here. He was called “a sailor”, although he never took part in expeditions but organized such voyages.
»  Today, only facade with a Gothic rose and battlements is all that remains of the original cathedral.
»  In 1333, a funeral chapel was built here. The Knight of Malta Joao was buried here.
»  Near it, a monastery was constructed. In the 17th century, Portuguese artists created a silver altar at the cathedral. It weighs 800 kilos. The interior of the halls is designed in the medieval style.

Bolsa Palace, Porto

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Palacio da Bolsa was built on the ruins of a monastery. The construction began in 1842. The building was intended for trade.
»  It had been constructed for a long time, so the interior was finished only in 1910. In the palace, there are a lot of rooms that have a unique name and design.
»  The biggest room is called “Nations' Courtyard”. Its ceiling is a glass octagonal dome. On the dome, there are emblems of countries Portugal traded in the 19th century with.
»  There are also the Tribunal Room and the Assembly Room. The Golden and Arab Rooms decorated in the Moorish Revival style are the most impressive. Here, important political figures and noble guests are hosted.
»  It is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
»  In other rooms, there are paintings, sculptures, beautiful pieces of furniture, and dishes.

Town Hall, Porto

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The Town Hall was aimed at extending the city center. The project was offered by an English architect Barry Parker in 1916.
»  The construction began in 1920.
»  Only in 1957, the building was opened for municipal authorities. At that time, the construction was terminated. The original project was changed.
»  Marble and granite were used to finish the interior. The facade of the building is decorated with sculptures depicting people doing things that are typical for Portugal, e.g. making wines or sailing. The central tower is decorated with chimes.
»  Not everyone can enter the Town Hall, as it is the seat of municipal authorities. Different meetings, festive events, and assemblies are held here.

University of Porto, Porto

Location on the map:   Facts:
» The University of Porto has long been the biggest university in the country. In 1930, it was the second largest higher education institution after the University of Lisbon.
»  The University of Porto was founded after the merger of the Nautical Academy (1762) and the Drawing and Sketching Academy (1779). The Polytechnic Academy was opened in 1911.
»  Nowadays, about 31 000 students, 11 000 of whom are graduate students, study here. There are 3 700 foreign students from 146 countries. Many people enter the university within the framework of international programs.
»  The university has 63 programs. It consists of three student towns or campuses in different city districts.
»  Many famous scientists and specialists studied here. One of them is the architect Alvaro Siza Vieira. By his projects, the Bonjour Tristesse borough in Berlin and the Serpentine Gallery in London were built. They are considered as masterpieces of modernity.
»  At the university, there are 13 museums: the Home-Museum of Abel Salazar, the Botanical Museum, the Museum of the Faculty of Fine Arts, the Museum of the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Science Museum, and the Museum of Astronomical Observatory.
»  In 2011, in the year of the University’s hundredth anniversary, the architect was rewarded with the Order of Saint James of the Sword.

Stadium of the Dragon, Porto

Location on the map:
Facts: » Dragon Stadium is the home of the football Porto club. It was built in 2003. When it was opened, the match between Porto and Barcelona where 16-year-old Lionel Messi played was held.
»  The name of the stadium is associated with a picture on the club emblem.
»  The stadium accommodates 50 000 spectators. Here, 5 matches of the 2004 Europa League were held.
»  Over the years, the football club of Porto won the 2002/03 UEFA Europa League, the 2003/04 Champions League, the 2004 Intercontinental Cup, and the 2010/11 Europa League.
»  In 2009, the European final of the Race of Champions took place here.
»  In the territory of the stadium, there is a museum where you can learn about the history of the club since 1893.
»  Besides sports competitions in 2006, The Rolling Stones gave a concert at the stadium.

Museum of Transport and Communications, Porto

Location on the map:
Facts: » In Porto, there is a customs agency in the building built in the 19th century. A museum was opened here.
»  Exhibits tell about the development of transportation lines in the country. The collection of items withdrawn from smugglers also narrates about the customs service. Golden bars, weapons, embalmed animals are not all seized exhibits.
»  In the Notification Sector, you can learn about how a hearing, smell, sight, and touches help communicate with a living being.
»  In the Communication Center, visitors can learn about codes, sign language, the Morse code, Braille for visually impaired and blind people, and secret ciphers.
»  The chapter about officials’ cars will carry you back in time. There is a car park where you can see different cars from the first hydrogen-fueled vehicles to Mercedes that belonged to the President until 2013. The museum is also proud of the first passenger car delivered from Paris in 1895.
»  In the customs library that houses about 20 000 books, you can learn about the government of the 19th century. There are also documents of the 17th century.
Porto - guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Plan your own tour over Porto on the monuments map

More to see in Porto
Perhaps, a beautiful cathedral built in the 12th century is the most famous landmark of Porto. The religious site is located in the center of the city and has a very interesting story. More than 8 centuries ago a large fortress was standing on the site of the cathedral. Many times the fortress saved the residents of the city during the times of war. Later the building was reconstructed into a beautiful cathedral. Today the cathedral is decorated with beautiful stained glass windows and frescoes. The massive silver altar remains the main decoration of the sacred place. Torre dos Clerigos is a no less amazing symbol of the city. The top of the tower is equipped with a spacious observation deck. All visitors are welcome to climb to the top of the tower and examine the beautiful city in detail. Among other prominent attractions of the city we should definitely mention Town Hall, Bishop's Palace and the house of the city’s exchange - each of these building is a true architectural masterpiece. Porto is also home to one of the most beautiful bridges in the country, which connects the city and Vila Nova de Gaia. An openwork arc, which length estimates 172 meters, was designed by the world-renowned engineer Eiffel. There is a special area for pedestrians on the bridge, so don’t forget to visit this place – a walk in this places will become a real pleasure. Fans of walks should not forget to visit the local botanical garden, which is also the oldest one in the country … Read further

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