Don't judge the church by its cover…read more Igreja de Santa Clara in Porto is a true hidden gem with one of the most stunning golden church interiors. We stood in awe by the altarpiece as we soaked in every detail of the gilded woodcarvings from floor-to-ceiling. Porto is a city of many churches and this one represents a pinnacle of Portugal's Golden Age in the 18th century with colonial wealth largely funnelled from Brazil. The entrance is modest with a small Renaissance portal inside a quiet courtyard. The €5 entrance fee is steep to only view the nave & the upper choir but we were blessed with calm reflection away from the bustle of the city. The dazzling Baroque interior is without empty space rather hosting expressive side altars for the worship of Christian figures and a central altar with a painting depicting Santa Clara's miracle in expelling Moorish invaders from this convent. The best viewpoint of the nave is from the upper floor upper choir where nuns traditionally attended mass. Staff were very kind to insist that we climb upstairs as we were about to exit the church just so that we could take in this excellent bird's eye view. Rich decor above the choir seats also contains rare church chinoiserie ornament influenced by Portugal's maritime past. Skip it or hit it? This church off the beaten path is well worth a 45 minute visit.

Portugal has been a very religious country throughout its history (less so now according to my tour…read moremanager). During their ultra-wealthy days from colonialism with gold and gems flooding in from Brazil and Angola, ultra-fancy churches in the scale of compounds, sanctuaries, and more were built. Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga is such an example. The present sanctuary started construction in 1722. Other than the Baroque church at the top, one set of zigzag shaped stairways are dedicated to the Five Senses each represented by a fountain and one set of stairways is dedicated to the Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity, each with its fountain. Chapels on either side of these staircases have sculptures dedicated to the Passion of Christ. In addition, they have a huge garden, a shop, historical items, a funicular (called elevator) and much more. See their website for more than what my photos can convey. https://bomjesus.pt/?lang=en We visited on a day of pouring rain, and it was still fantastic. They have different winter vs summer schedules for every location. Best to check their website here: https://bomjesus.pt/informations/?lang=en The location is about one hour drive from Porto. It is a great day trip from Porto. Be sure to visit Braga, the historical center also.

This place was amazing, the architecture and gardens were so beautifully kept up…read more Of course the history is awesome, you wonder what it would have felt to be alive when it was built.

Avenida dos Aliados is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Porto. This large avenue…read morefeatures the local government's city hall and other buildings and statues that were built in the 19th and 20th centuries, and it has a central square where locals meet and hold events. My tour guide took my husband and me on a drive down this avenue. We liked seeing the architecture of the city hall and the statue of King Dom Pedro IV.

Monument of Pedro, short history of how Porto was named. Near central bank. It is said body of king…read morein in Brazil but heart remains in Porto

I thought I'd have to bribe Jamie W to climb this historic tower, but he surprised me by not…read morewhining about it. I knew from more youthful vloggers on YouTube that the panoramic views were spectacular from the top. At 246 feet, the tower is the highest point in Porto's historic center. However, before we climbed the inevitable 240 steps, the museum beckoned. It was formerly the private quarters of the clerics who founded the church. The space now houses religious artifacts and related art exhibits and extends into the High Church Gallery, a balcony promenade that provides an elevated view of the church's ornate nave (Photo 5). Before entering the stairwell, we had our photos taken in front of a green screen for souvenirs they pitched to us later. The climb wasn't that bad, just a bit claustrophobic in some sections, specially when we had to squeeze by perspiring tourists. They were more spritzing than sprinting. There are two observation floors. The first is about 2/3 of the way up, while the narrower space at the summit provides the ultimate payoff with panoramic cityscape and river views (Video). As usual, the climb down was easier since we knew how long it should take. And yes, there were photos of us standing at the summit in comic poses. I usually bypass them, but for 8€, I couldn't help myself (Photo 7). RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/CzAl-vBlP0

A historic climb for a view of Porto's skyline…read more The Clérigos Tower is a baroque landmark easily spotted from vantage points across historic Porto, and therefore one that's worth climbing for that panoramic view from above. The 75m bell tower monument is connected to a church that was built for the Clergy brotherhood in the 18th century. The ornate church and relic exhibit are also worth sightseeing to gain appreciation of its history. We pre-booked our visit (€10) and were serenaded with a concert taking place in front of the brilliantly lit church altar. From there we were able to head above the nave for a full vantage of the church and dome in its pink & white marble tones. At our exact booking time, we were able to queue in line before taking the steps up the actual tower. The queue was slow-moving because the staircase is narrow and the steps themselves were quite steep making it challenging particularly for those with knee pains. Once we made it to the top, we were rewarded with the 360 panoramic views including the famous bridges connecting to Gaia, and the historical city centre with orange rooftops underneath. It can be a workout getting up and down as the tight staircase has to accommodate the constant two-way flow of visitors. Skip it or hit it? This is one of the prominent sites in Porto but be ready for the stairs.

Fonte dos Leões (Fountain of the Lions) is a 19th century fountain in the Praça de Parada Leitão…read morenear the famous Igreja dos Clérigos. According to sources, it is a copy of the fountain in the Town Hall Square of Leicester, England. The central fountain has a cruciform layout with the group of sculptures of winged lions at the base. The water flows from each of their mounts into the fountain. It's a great meeting spot!

This 'Fountain of the Lions' located in the downtown of Porto, is a gorgeous centerpiece for the…read morecity with interesting stories surrounding it. For instance, JK Rowling lived here for awhile after writing the first Harry Potter and it's said that she based the Gryffindor icon off of the fierce lions in this fountain. There is a gorgeous book store (Livraria Lello) close by this fountain that she took inspiration from for the Diagon Alley bookstore with the crazy staircase. It's also been named one of the most beautiful bookstores in the country. Definitely come explore this area, as EVERYTHING around it is gorgeous. This fountain is also in front of of a university where the students literally do where capes around as if Harry Potter has come to life. It's awesome!

All the great cities have their defining landmarks. Porto has several worthy candidates like Porto…read moreCathedral and Torre dos Clérigos, but I would argue this double-deck metal arch bridge should hold the title. Among the six bridges that cross the Douro River, this is far and away the most distinctive due to the design by Théophile Seyrig, a student of Gustave Eiffel. The resemblance to the Eiffel Tower is there only horizontally with a 172-meter span. That made it the longest of its type in the world at the time of its construction in 1886. The structure features two distinct levels. The upper deck is where Jamie W and I enjoyed the panoramic views of the river with Porto to the north and Vila Nova de Gaia to the south (Video 3). The Porto Metro line passed by pedestrians without incident (Video 2). The lower deck handles both vehicles and pedestrians without the need of climbing steps. CORRESPONDING REVIEWS Porto Cathedral: https://yelp.to/VaFX8OAzu2 Torre dos Clérigos: https://yelp.to/bxdCZlsZFs RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/31m_Ir-k4Q

Iconic bridge in the heart of Porto…read more Dom Luís I Bridge is a 19th century double-deck iron bridge spanning 172m across the Douro River between downtown Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. It was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel who incorporated a metal arch reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower that blends modern design with versatility to this day. The upper level is used by metro streetcars while the lower level 45m below it for cars. Each offers a unique perspective to those of us who walk across it. From Gaia, many locals and tourists alike come for the sunset view next to this UNESCO world heritage landmark. At golden hour, the view of the bridge was picturesque with Porto's historic backdrop and drifting boats under the bridge. While huge crowds gathered at Jardim do Morro with a tree obstructed view, we found the best view to be on the other side above it at Miradouro da Serra do Pilar by the monastery. Don't try climbing Pedra dos Gatinhos, as it was fenced off along the path underneath the monastery. While bridge viewpoints at golden hour are busy, we felt the energy of local musicians playing relaxing tunes. This bridge can also be viewed from the Teleférico de Gaia cable car including during sunset. After dinner the bridge is brightly illuminated and we observed locals gathering merrily at Jardim do Morro. Conveniently there's a metro station nearby for the streetcar which crosses Dom Luís I Bridge back to Porto. Skip it or hit it? Walk it twice if you can for both upper & lower bridge crossings experiences.

Foz do Douro means "Mouth of the Douro" and is a district where the Douro River meets the Atlantic…read moreOcean. My tour guide took my husband and me through this area. We saw the gorgeous ocean, sandy beaches, some nice-looking houses, a fort, gardens, restaurants, a sea wall, etcetera. The area was very scenic and had a peaceful and relaxing mood. Our tour guide told us that you can see the currents and color of the water change where the river and ocean meet.

" Fox do D'ouzo " is situated in the western part of Porto where the Douro River meets the Atlantic…read moreOcean and it is really a magical place at sunset. Many locals and fishermen are there to try their luck - open bond fire with grill everything is ready for the experience. It is a great place for walks nearby the sea and admiring the Altantic that comes for a last time blasting its surf on the rocks. Some seagulls flying, a descending sunset in fresh breez. God life is good!!! And for all Yelpers - Happy Thanksgiving we have a lot to be grateful for and to have YELP guiding our footsteps with the wisdoms of those who have been here before! SYOY!