PORTO photoblog

One day: time to see a little more Now you can also walk across the Dom Luis I bridge to visit the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar , see more of central Porto and have time to pop into a museum, such as the Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis, or a church or two. Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar You might also have time for some shopping in the Rua de Santa Catarina. Rua de Santa Catarina Two or three days: time to see much more Now you can really get to know Porto. You shouldn't miss the Museu de Arte Contemporânea and Serraves park, and go to the nearby Boavista area to see the villas of wealthy and the Casa da Música. You should also have time to visit the Museu do Carro Eléctrico (Tram Museum), and the nearby Palácio de Cristal park, the Museu Romântico and maybe the Museu do Vinho do Porto. Also visit the Palácio da Bolsa and the neighbouring Casa do Infante. If you can, also try to visit the Gaia district and its port lodges. Longer: enjoying Porto t

Although Porto has always been Portugal's second most important cultural centre, it as really taken off as a lively arts spot since it's European Capital of Culture status in 2001. Several good museums offer art, artifacts and more unsual offerings, such as old trams. Porto is also represented: you can visit the various shippers lodges, and the Museu do Vinho do Porto . Museu do Vinho do Porto Porto's architecture is another cultural attraction and one of the reasons why part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is centred on the Ribeira district (the site also covers the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar across the Douro river, and the area around Sé Cathedral), where architecture dates from the Middle Ages to 19th century neoclassical. Many fine churches in the centre of Porto city display various architectural styles including medieval. Renaissance and Baroque, and the are important neoclassical buildings such as Sao Bento railway station