Porto may not be Portugal’s capital city, or its most popular tourist destination, but the country’s second-largest city is chock-full of atmosphere with lots to see and experience.
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.