A beautiful place to take family and friends. Lots of steps though, so be prepared to walk to enjoy…read morethe attractions and sides. At the very top, there is a small gift shop with lots of souvenirs you can purchase. I've been on the pricey side, but the free admission makes up for it. There's about 8 to 10 stairs to climb down or up depending on where you start. In the middle of each stair, there's something to look at her to get a picture of. At the top, you can also see the little carriage that was used back then to transport people between the levels. The bathroom nearby is not free, unfortunately.

The church is beautiful from what I hear but nothing special. My tour guide didn't feel it…read morenecessary for me to go inside. So, I chose not to. Based on the other reviews here and my long day, I don't regret that decision one bit! The incline, known as a funicular, is here, Porto, and Lisbon. Lisbon and Porto are not must do/see funiculars but okay to do sort of thing. This funicular is worth the effort because it is run by water. There are two workers who coordinate with each other to determine how much water needs to be put from the top so that the water will naturally balance the number of people to go up or down the incline simultaneously. Most people, if they take this funicular, they take it up, both ways, or not at all. I didn't take it at all as time was short but long enough to appreciate this gem of a place. Portugal is very hilly in many places and you can get a decent workout if you are capable to walk around. This place reminds me of the Pittsburgh incline a bit because there are two inclines you can take. However, they are run by electric like in Porto or Lisbon and do not run on water. Braga will always run on water because Portugal wants to preserve its unique history in the 3rd biggest city in the country. The funicular is out of the way enough that it doesn't affect the fast pace that has affected Porto and Lisbon to understandably switch from water to electric.

Since the main Catedral was being spruced up and closed, came here after completing the Camino…read moreFrances to reflect. I'm normally not a big crier, but I guess spending 30+ days on the trail brought out my inner chillona. This beautiful church sure did bring out the waterworks. Built between 1754-1765, this impressive church with the marvelous dome was a sight to behold. It was quiet,fairly empty, and just the perfect place to contemplate. Additionally, the chiaroscuro effects were just brilliant. I could go on and on. Overall, just a great church to spend some time alone, let everything you went through sink in, and just plain be. Buen Camino, Peregrinos!

Rolled into Sarria after almost a month on the Camino and made out way to the church to get new…read morecredenciales since we filled up our previous two along The Way. This 13th century Gothic church was just lovely. Be sure to spend some time and admire the Romanic features. Oh yeah, the lady manning the Pilgrim center was also very helpful. ¡Buen Camino!

There are so many beautiful churches in Europe and Porto, Portugal is no exception. The…read morearchitecture in this church is so detailed and amazing. It's a definite must visit on a trip to Porto.

What a beautiful church! I can only speak for the outside, becaue we only peeked inside since there…read morewas a small fee. Thait seemed like what most people were doing, but just the facade is a sight to behold in itself. There's plenty of tilework on the exterior of the church to admire and the blues are so pretty! We came by on a Monday at around 4 PM and it was pretty quiet at that time. Good stop to make while in Porto if you're into unique tilework.

The Church of Saint Ildefonso is really a must when visiting the City of Porto. The beautiful tiled…read moreexterior immediately draws the visitor into its ornate interior and exquisite altar. The visit costs one Euro and it's definitely worth it. We were lucky to have been there when there was music playing adding to the atmosphere. I personally loved it so much that just had to return a second time to purchase a souvenir from the shop where I was well taken care of by a lovely gentleman. I will definitely have to come back next year and take the tour of the museum. Muito obrigado to the staff of the wonderful jewel of a place. Ben Urizar - New York, New York

Two churches. One facade. Zero personal space. These side by side beautiful churches are separated…read moreby the world's narrowest house (bless that tenant). The Carmo side is tiled and extra while the Carmelitas side is older and more humble. Legend has it, the tiny house in between was built to keep the monks and nuns from getting... too social if you know what I mean. The drama!

If one church visit isn't enough how about a double-church…read more Igreja dos Carmelitas is one of the unique churches in Porto's historic streets, connected to its adjacent twin, Igreja do Carmo. These two churches nearly blend together. Built in the 17th century, the Carmelitas side on the left for nuns is classic baroque. And unlike the Carmo side on the right for monks, entry was free when we visited making it a convenient pit stop between other historic sites. There is even a 3 ft wide narrow house between both churches that traditionally segregated Carmelite monks from nuns. Before going in, admire the elegant azulejo blue tiled wall on one side and the magnificent bronze Fountain of the Lions nearby, thought to be the inspiration for Harry Potter's Gryffindor crest. Inside the church feels quiet and intimate with decor featuring soft gold accents and traditional woodwork. Everything felt restrained except for the gilded main altar with intricate woodwork and a tiered mantlepiece dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Virgin Mary). Skip it or hit it? It's a quick and free visit in this area of Porto worth exploring.