Spain & Portugal – Porto Day 2 – The Travelling Watson's

There were about 40 people lined up to have their picture taken with the Porto sign.

Porto again today and we had a huge day planned which included some churches. We started with tram across the bridge which was much less stressful for Collette and made our way to Porto’s main rail station at Sao Bento.

Construction was started in 1904. It is renown for the 20,000 hand painted tiles on the interior. The upper polychrome frieze depicts the history of transport and the blue and white panels depict significant events in Portuguese history. Quite a stunning building inside.

Porto Cathedral dates back to the second half of the 12th C and one of the city’s oldest monuments. The vintage cars do a roaring trade with tourists not wanting to scale the hills.

As usual here blue and white tile is used extensively. It is a large complex with lots to explore.

Main altar.

One of the side chapels.

Ceiling in St Vincent chapel.

The climb up the bell tower was invigorating and the views well worth the effort.

Notice the old city wall.

This shop sells hand painted tiles, specialising in blue and white and fish.

The Clerigos Church bell tower stands 75 m high. It was constructed in the mid 1700’s.

This church has embraced Portugal’s expansive tourism policy and set themselves up to maximum advantage. This includes a laser light show in the church which looks impressive in the photos.

Another church, Igreja do Carmo, renown for use of tiles on the exterior. We didn’t go inside.

The rooftop garden really is a roof.

Very impressive light shop. Fortunately too difficult to bring home or it could have got expensive.

Porto Town Hall.

Staircase in the Town Hall, only for the chosen.

Statue at the front of Town Hall of Almeida Garrett, 1799 – 1854, a major Portuguese Romantic poet, playwright, novelist, and politician. Born in Porto.

The Mercado do Bolhao is an historic permanent market selling all sorts of goods, mostly food. We were there at lunchtime and it was packed, standing room only and healthy lines for food.

Sardines are popular. The stall holders put a lot of effort into decorating.

Staircase to the markets and restaurants upstairs.

Bowl of hot pasta is poured into a cheese round and melted cheese combined with the pasta. Looks delicious.

All your mushrooms.

A mushroom snack.

More street wandering to the next church.

Specialist wine shop with only special bottles. I could do damage in here.

Chapel of Souls, another tiled church.

We explored the Metro system to Casa da Musica to view this impressive piece of concrete, the new concert hall. Can’t say much more.

Far more impressive is this statue across the road. It is the Monumento aos Herois da Guerra Peninsular, 45 m high in granite and bronze, depicting the joint Portuguese and British victory over Napoleon’s invading troops during the Peninsular War (1807-1814).

Last on our list was a visit to the Crystal Palace Gardens. Unfortunately the Crystal Palace no longer exists as it was demolished in 1951 to build a sports pavilion to host the World Roller Hockey Championships.