The River

One of the keys to Porto’s charm is the Douro River. The city was once a river port used for export by the local merchants. Make sure to stroll along the wharf at night time and catch the gorgeous view from Vila Nova de Gaia. 

The Port Wine

The city if full of wine cellars making Porto’s signature drink, port wine. If you can, find a cellar with a tour, and you will probably be educated about the history and traditions of this iconic drink, and get to sample some delicious sweet wine.

Igreja de Sao Francisco

The first thing you’d want to know when visiting this church is that it is estimated to have had over 300 kgs of gold dust used when it was being decorated. The interior is absolutely gleaming, and the building itself is one of the Porto’s best examples of Gothic architecture. The premises also include catacombs, where you would find an ossuary and the graves of the Franciscan monks who lived in the monastery and members of some of Porto’s richest families.

The post Three Things You Shouldn’t Miss When Visiting Porto in Portugal appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Northern Portugal has plenty of charm itself, and there are lots of charming places to visit. Here are three towns that you absolutely must see.

Guimarães

Did you know that the country of Portugal was born in this small city? The Battle of Sao Mamede, won by Afonso Henriques and his troops, is often considered the event that led to the creation of the nation. You can visit the famous castle which played a part in the battle as well as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town in Guimaraes.

Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima features the longest medieval bridge in all of Portugal, and a part of it actually dates back nearly 2,000 years to Roman times! You’ll love strolling through this cozy town and visiting stores selling traditional meats and handicrafts.

Aveiro

Did you know that Portugal has its own version of Venice? The small city of Aveiro is built on canals and is considered the country’s answer to the famous northern Italian city. Idyllic doesn’t even begin to describe any vacation spent here.

The post Northern Portugal’s Best Towns are Full of Charm appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

The River

One of the keys to Porto’s charm is the Douro River. The city was once a river port used for export by the local merchants. Make sure to stroll along the wharf at night time and catch the gorgeous view from Vila Nova de Gaia. 

The Port Wine

The city if full of wine cellars making Porto’s signature drink, port wine. If you can, find a cellar with a tour, and you will probably be educated about the history and traditions of this iconic drink, and get to sample some delicious sweet wine.

Igreja de Sao Francisco

The first thing you’d want to know when visiting this church is that it is estimated to have had over 300 kgs of gold dust used when it was being decorated. The interior is absolutely gleaming, and the building itself is one of the Porto’s best examples of Gothic architecture. The premises also include catacombs, where you would find an ossuary and the graves of the Franciscan monks who lived in the monastery and members of some of Porto’s richest families.

The post Three Things You Shouldn’t Miss When Visiting Porto in Portugal appeared first on Traveler Dreams.

Northern Portugal has plenty of charm itself, and there are lots of charming places to visit. Here are three towns that you absolutely must see.

Guimarães

Did you know that the country of Portugal was born in this small city? The Battle of Sao Mamede, won by Afonso Henriques and his troops, is often considered the event that led to the creation of the nation. You can visit the famous castle which played a part in the battle as well as a UNESCO World Heritage-listed old town in Guimaraes.

Ponte de Lima

Ponte de Lima features the longest medieval bridge in all of Portugal, and a part of it actually dates back nearly 2,000 years to Roman times! You’ll love strolling through this cozy town and visiting stores selling traditional meats and handicrafts.

Aveiro

Did you know that Portugal has its own version of Venice? The small city of Aveiro is built on canals and is considered the country’s answer to the famous northern Italian city. Idyllic doesn’t even begin to describe any vacation spent here.

The post Northern Portugal’s Best Towns are Full of Charm appeared first on Traveler Dreams.