Top architectural sightseeing and landmarks of Porto - ideas on city exploration routes

» The Clerigos Church was built in 1750 by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni. The construction lasted for 18 years. Nasoni built a bell tower, the Torre dos Clerigos, behind the church in 1763.
»  During the construction, the architect joined the Brotherhood of the Clergymen. When he died in 1770, he was buried in the crypt of the church.
»  The church and the tower are designed in the baroque style and decorated with carved elements and statues of saints. The walls on the ground floor are 2 m thick.
»  The bell tower is 76 m high. It is seen from afar. The tower has long been a reference point for navigators.
»  You can get up the spiral staircase and reach the top of the tower. There is an observation platform.
»  In 1910, the Torre dos Clerigos was declared a national monument.

» The Dom Luis I Bridge was built at the site of an old suspension bridge. The architectural project was offered by a Belgium company.
»  Leopold Valentine and Theophile Seyrig worked for it. Seyrig was a companion of Gustave Eiffel who constructed the Maria Pia Bridge that was named after a wife of King Luis I.
»  Leopold Valentine supervised the construction of the bridge between 1880 and 1887. The bridge was named after King Luis I. The King rewarded Leopold Valentine with a medal.
»  The bridge is 386 m long and has two levels. The lower one is intended for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists. At the upper level, there is a light railway and a metro line. There is a special pedestrian walkway.
»  In the evening, the bridge is illuminated by bright garlands and decorates the city. It is the symbol of Porto.

» The Church of Santíssima Trindade was built in the middle of the 19th century. People have come here to attend services since 1841. The name of the church symbolizes the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
»  From the outside, the building resembles a medieval building. The House of God is located in the center of Porto, right behind the Town Hall and the 70-meter tower. Residential houses that belonged to the church occupy the entire quarter.
»  The walls are made of gray rectangular blocks. The pediment of the church is not almost painted.
»  The interior is quite modest and ascetic. On the walls, there are no glazed painted clay plates. Sunlight comes through narrow windows. Despite this, the church still looks magnificent.
»  The building is several meters long. The middle of the facade is crowned with a beautiful bell tower that ends with a high spire. In a small square in front of the cathedral, there is a fountain. It was constructed in the 18th century.
»  Behind the cathedral, there is a tram stop. From here, trams start their routes. The cathedral is open for everyone.

» The Mercado Ferreira Borges was built in 1885 to replace the old Ribeira Market. However, it was not used as a market.
»  It was named after Jose Ferreira Borges, a lawyer and a politician.
»  The building was built of metal structures and cast iron, which was a superior construction technology at that time. The market was constructed by the Alianza Company.
»  In 1904, it was decided to open a city museum and a winter garden in pavilions.
»  Nowadays, the building serves as a culture and entertainment center. In 2010, the HardClub Theatre was opened here. There is a cafe, O Mercado restaurant, and a brewery.

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Facts: » The House of Music was built by the project of a Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas in 2005. His project won a competition for modern projects of concert halls.
»  With its exterior, the building resembles an irregular-shaped crystal and is designed in the deconstructivist style.
»  The House of Music includes several audience halls. The first one seats 1 200 spectators, the second one - 350. There are also rooms for chamber concerts. On the upper floor, there is a big restaurant that seats 150 guests, a cafe, and an outdoor terrace.
»  In the House of Music, three orchestras work: National, Baroque and Remix.
»  The building has blank walls and fragments covered with glass panels. Blank walls hide technical rooms. Concert halls can be seen through big windows. You can hear and watch what happens in both halls even if you are outside. It is especially comfortable for tourists.
»  The House of Music is the symbol of Porto that is called the European Capital of Culture.

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Facts: » The Crystal Palace in Porto was built in 1865 when the Worldwide Exhibition was held. It resembles the palace in Hyde Park which was also built for hosting the Worldwide Exhibition in 1851.
»  The Crystal Palace has long disappeared. At its site, a big multifunctional pavilion with a glass roof was built. Here, different events and festivals for adults and children are held.
»  The park around it impresses with alleys and flowerbeds, walking peacocks, and comfortable benches. There are a lot of sculptures in the ancient, classical, and modern avant-garde styles.
»  In the park, there is the Rose Garden, the Scented Garden, and the Romantic Museum. In the late 19th century, the fugitive King of Sardinia, Carl Albert lived here with his family. Nothing - old furniture, the collection of paintings, and tapestries - has changed since the king’s death.
»  On the ground floor, there is a port wine saloon and taste this famous Portuguese drink.