It is our last day in Porto and we want to make the most of it.
Street stall
Santa Catarina Street
We visited the Bolhao neighbourhood. We walk along Rua Santa Catarina, a shopping street where we find the famous Café Majestic, a tea room considered to be one of the most beautiful in the city.
Cafe Majestic
Tram
We continue to the Capela das Almas. An impressive church with a tiled façade that is not to be missed.
Capela das Almas
Capela das Almas
Right next door is the Bolhao Market. It is completely under construction, they have left the structure standing but the inside is being renovated, a pity because we had read that it was a very interesting place full of activity.
Bolhao Market
We walk back to the Se or Cathedral. On the way we meet our friends and visit the Cathedral together. It rises majestically above the old quarter. It is a beautiful building with a portico and tiled cloister. You can climb up to one of its towers and enjoy breathtaking views of the city. It is well worth going inside.
Oporto Cathedral
Cathedral
Cathedral
Views from the Cathedral
Views from the Cathedral
We walk through the network of streets of the old quarter until we reach Ribeira. A labyrinth of medieval alleys with hanging clothes and brightly coloured facades. Don't miss it.
Oporto old quarter
Oporto old quarter
In Ribeira we enjoyed a good beer.
Ribeira
Ribeira
We eat a set menu at the restaurant Adega Vila Mea. Typical Portuguese food at a good price. It's worth it.
Octopus
We return to the car park and take the car, next stop Guimarães where we will meet other friends.
Guimarães is a beautiful town about an hour's drive from Porto. The historic centre is quite large and has several points of interest such as the Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira (spectacular both the church itself and the gothic canopy outside and the nearby square), the Church of Sao Gualter or the Church of Sao Francisco.
Church of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira
Guimarães
The Duques of Braganzza Palace with its crenellated towers and brick chimneys is also worth a visit, where you can visit its rooms with collections of tapestries and a chapel.
Duques of Braganzza Palace
Right next door is the Castle, which can also be visited but you can no longer climb the keep. The views from here are breathtaking.
Castle
Views from the Castle
Largo da República, Largo do Toural and Largo da Condessa do Juncal connect various parts of the city and are pleasant for a stroll.
Guimarães
Guimarães is spectacular, walking through the narrow streets and squares of the old town is worthwhile despite the amount of tourism. The atmosphere in the terraces and cafes makes this place a must if you are in the area.
Guimarães
Guimarães
We set off in the direction of Citânia de Briteiros, one of the largest Celtic settlements in the country. But we arrive late, they close at 18.30. So we take the car again and spend a few days in Celorico de Basto.
A beautiful mountain village in the Alvao Natural Park where we want to make some routes and get to know the area.
Art in Guimarães
We have to do some shopping and in Mondín de Basto there is a supermarket, the Pingo Doce chain, which closes at ten o'clock at night.
It should be borne in mind that in Portugal the opening hours of shops are more similar to those in Europe than in Spain, so they are usually closed from 19.30 onwards.
Guimarães
We arrived at Celorico, the rural house is spectacular. It looks like a small pazo with the owners' private house that has its own church, vegetable garden, rural flats and the house we rented surrounded by a large garden.
It is a stone house with huge walls, the owners are so nice that they gave us a bottle of wine that they make themselves, peppers and tomatoes from their garden. Totally recommendable.
Entrance to Se Cathedral: 3 €/pax.
Lunch: Adega Vila Mea restaurant, menu 10 €/pax.
Buy Pingo 12 de Porto: 11 €.
Parking: Central Parking Park at Rua da Alegria 35, €9/24 hours.
Guimarães Castle: 2€/pax.
Accommodation: Casa do Eido e Casa da Viúva for 6 pax 100€/night (16€/pax night).
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