Porto is one of the two most populated cities in Portugal, with a great historical heritage. If you want to discover its most hidden places and visit them for free, here are some of the places you can see. Also, you can go through all of them with this Free Tour Porto Essential
Walk along the Ribeira
It is one of the most famous areas of Porto, where the typical photographs of this city are taken. Here you can walk along the banks of the Duero, rest from your long journey, visit the pier or enjoy its picturesque houses, some decorated with tile murals where Portuguese history is told, and its atmosphere that is worth it.
Dom Luis I Bridge
It is located in the Ribeira mentioned above, crossing the Duero River so that you can get from one shore to the other; Built in 1877 due to the increase in trade, it is an iron bridge that stands out since it has two floors and both cars and pedestrians can circulate. You have probably seen a lot of pictures of this place.
Plaza de la Sé
It is located in the Batalha neighborhood and this is where the Porto Cathedral is located, built in the 12th century, mostly Baroque although it has undergone many modifications throughout its history. Due to these changes, the cloister or the Chapel of San Juan Evangelista have elements of Gothic style. The entrance to the cathedral is free, you will only have to pay €3 if you want to enter the Cloister and Casa do Cabildo; The hours are from April to October from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and from November to March from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m..
Portuguese Photography Center
This is the old prison since it ceased to be when the Carnation Revolution ended its security . It is located very close to the Clérigos Tower or the Lello bookstore and is currently a photography center with temporary and permanent exhibitions that tell of its evolution. Its hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Admission is completely free.
Crystal Palace and its gardens
The Crystal Palace was designed by Thomas Dillen Jones as inspiration for London, however, Today it is replaced by the "Rosa Mota Pavilion", where fairs, events are held and inside there is a public library. Thus, the palace gardens are spectacular with 9 hectares in size, from them you will be able to observe incredible views of the Duero River and the Atlantic Ocean as well as contemplating a great variety of species of both birds and other animals and plants.
Sao Bento Station
The station was built on a former convent, inside there is a hall decorated with more than 20,000 tiles in which the history of Portugal is portrayed. It is for this reason that you cannot settle for just its facade and you must go inside. It is open 24 hours a day and, of course, its entrance is free, being able to catch a multitude of cities from here.
Port Wineries
When traveling to Porto you cannot miss going to a winery, most of them are in Vila Nova de Gaia . Port wine is very peculiar since they add spirits to it, interrupting its fermentation, so it is not like the rest we know, but is much stronger. At the end of the tour of the visit they will offer you two glasses of wine, one of white wine and the other of red, this will make you the one who has the experience of comparing them.
Avenida dos Aliados and Plaza de la Liberdade
This square connects the modern area with the old one. In the center is a sculpture of King Pedro IV on horseback, ten meters high and made of bronze. From the Plaza de Liberdade starts Avenida dos Aliados full of modernist buildings with sculptures of men and women that stand out from their facades and that starts from Palácio das Cardosas until it reaches the City Hall.
Fernandina Wall
With a perimeter of s one of the medieval walls by which Porto was protected the 2600 meter wall was started in the fourteenth century although only small parts of its original form remain. This wall is also known as the New Close or Gothic Wall. Its remains are considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Miguel Bombarda
Carried out in honor of Miguel Bombarda, a member of the Portuguese Republican Party and the revolutionary committee that established the Republic of Portugal. It is one of the central streets of Porto that we can compare with an art gallery for its great modernist exhibitions, considered the largest art gallery in Europe. Here you can try typical dishes of this city or visit the romantic museum.
