Days 117 - Porto, Portugal

Weather
Cloudy, low 60's

Map

What we did
Today we chose a walking tour of Porto paired with a port wine tasting, and it turned out to be a wonderful way to experience the city. We began with about a 40 minute bus ride into town, followed by a relaxed 90 minute guided walk through its historic streets. Along the way, we passed the impressive Porto Cathedral and continued toward the University of Porto near the Rectorate building on Praça de Gomes Teixeira. At the nearby Fonte dos Leões, we learned about a fun student tradition where mock baptisms are held to welcome new students into academic life.Just steps away, we saw the neighboring churches of Igreja dos Carmelitas and Igreja do Carmo . Between them sits the narrow Casa Escondida (hidden house), only about seven feet wide and easy to miss if you do not know it is there. We also walked through part of São Bento Railway Station, where the stunning tile panels beautifully depict scenes from Portugal’s history.

After the walking portion, we took a short drive to Poças for a tasting. While the experience was enjoyable, it did not have quite the same personal touch we experienced the day before at Taylor Fladgate. Even so, it was a worthwhile visit. We learned more about the port making process and had the chance to walk through their cellars, surrounded by rows of aging barrels.

Overall, it was a memorable excursion that combined history, culture, and, of course, a taste of one of Portugal’s most famous specialties.