Being in the holiday spirit for Thanksgiving, we decided to test the waters after a hiatus from international travel due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Portugal was the first country in Europe to get the “Safe Travels” badge and is the highest vaccinated country in Europe. Following my Portuguese colleague Ana’s suggestion, we traveled to Porto where she is originally from.
Porto is the most northern part of Portugal and is a charming foodie city surrounded by vineyards and port cellars. Our first stop was to check out Belle Epoch, Majestic Cafe, a beautiful historical cafe that opened its doors on Dec. 17, 1921. It is a time capsule of the glamour of that time with good food and an eloquent atmosphere. Following this visit, we prepared for a day of adventure, traveling on foot through this interesting city visiting its old town which is a Unesco World Heritage site. One of the highlights of this city is that it hosts many beautiful and historical tiled churches which we gladly explored and visited.
Capela Das Almas (Chapel of the Souls) shined brightest from the outside as a gorgeous piece of artistry and one of the oldest historic centers of Europe. Its exterior is covered with magnificent blue and white tile (azulejos) panels, depicting scenes from the lives of various saints. The interior is so ornate and the artistry on the walls simply scream to be photographed.
Igreja de Santo Ildefonso (Church of St Ildefonso) is an eighteenth-century church in Batalha Square and was completed in 1739. This church was built in a proto-Baroque style and features a façade of 1932 azulejo tilework.
Igreja do Carmo looks like the biggest church in Porto, but it is two churches connected by one of the world’s narrowest houses at just one meter wide. This was another church with a well-known tiled side facade.
Sé do Porto (Porto Cathedral) is a Porto heritage in the historic center at the highest landmark of the old town where Porto was born.
After these visits, we decided to take an Uber back to the hotel for a quick break. The cost of Uber here surprisingly shocked us at €2.50 to €4.50 each ride! The most expensive was to and from the airport because we needed an XL for our loot. It was only €8! From there we delightfully took Uber everywhere. After our break we continued our journey!
Calling all Harry Potter fans! Don’t miss out on Livraria Lello, an opulent historic bookstore with a stained-glass ceiling and a curved wooden red carpeted staircase that inspired scenes from JK Rowling’s “Harry Potter”. It’s an amazing journey through the enchanted world of books. You must buy the €5 ticket online to get in to avoid the very long line outside.
Since Uber is so cheap, we decided to skip a train ride, but we still went to see one of the most beautiful train stations in the world: the São Bento Train Station. This is a historic train station with exquisite ceramic painted wall tiles. Afterwards, we ended our jam-packed day in Rua Santa Catarina, a long pedestrian street with some of the best shopping and restaurants in the city.
Porto is also a hub to visit several interesting historic towns nearby, including Braga and Guimarães.
Braga is known for its religious heritage and events. To the east is Bom Jesus do Monte, a complex that has a neoclassical church atop an elaborate 17-flight stairway lined with statues each depicting a particular story. This is the most beautiful staircase I’ve seen in my years of travel. In the city center, medieval Braga Cathedral is home to a sacred art museum and the Gothic-style Kings' Chapel: Santuário de Nossa Senhora do Sameiro (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Sameiro). Sitting on top of a hill of the same name, at 566 meters of altitude, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sameiro is one of the most visited places of Marian worship in all of Portugal.
Guimarães is “The Cradle of Portugal,” and is known for well-preserved medieval buildings like the hilltop 10th-century Guimarães Castle with sweeping city views. The restored Dukes of Bragança Palace was built in the style of a French chateau. It is the town where the first king was born, and one of the Camino De Santiago walking routes, for those familiar with this legendary adventure.
Fatima and Lisbon
We took the public bus called Rede Expressos to move between cities in this country. It was convenient, safe, and cheap! Our last stop was Fatima, which is known for the Capelinha das Aparicões (Chapel of the Apparitions). It is also where one of the bullets that struck Pope John Paul II in 1981 was encased in the crown of the image of Our Lady of Fatima. The next day, we began our journey home, but not before making a stop in the famous Pasteis de Belém in Lisbon. They have the tastiest egg tart in the world! After our treat, we enjoyed a stunning sunset in the Belém area as a bonus to the end of the trip.
Portugal is a lovely country known for its picturesque churches, exquisite blue and white tiles that pave its architecture, as well as excellent cuisine and overall affordability! People were very mindful and considerate following the safety protocols of the time, and there was never a moment where we felt unsafe!
Comments