I thought I'd have to bribe Jamie W to climb this historic tower, but he surprised me by not…read morewhining about it. I knew from more youthful vloggers on YouTube that the panoramic views were spectacular from the top. At 246 feet, the tower is the highest point in Porto's historic center. However, before we climbed the inevitable 240 steps, the museum beckoned. It was formerly the private quarters of the clerics who founded the church. The space now houses religious artifacts and related art exhibits and extends into the High Church Gallery, a balcony promenade that provides an elevated view of the church's ornate nave (Photo 5). Before entering the stairwell, we had our photos taken in front of a green screen for souvenirs they pitched to us later. The climb wasn't that bad, just a bit claustrophobic in some sections, specially when we had to squeeze by perspiring tourists. They were more spritzing than sprinting. There are two observation floors. The first is about 2/3 of the way up, while the narrower space at the summit provides the ultimate payoff with panoramic cityscape and river views (Video). As usual, the climb down was easier since we knew how long it should take. And yes, there were photos of us standing at the summit in comic poses. I usually bypass them, but for 8€, I couldn't help myself (Photo 7). RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/CzAl-vBlP0

A historic climb for a view of Porto's skyline…read more The Clérigos Tower is a baroque landmark easily spotted from vantage points across historic Porto, and therefore one that's worth climbing for that panoramic view from above. The 75m bell tower monument is connected to a church that was built for the Clergy brotherhood in the 18th century. The ornate church and relic exhibit are also worth sightseeing to gain appreciation of its history. We pre-booked our visit (€10) and were serenaded with a concert taking place in front of the brilliantly lit church altar. From there we were able to head above the nave for a full vantage of the church and dome in its pink & white marble tones. At our exact booking time, we were able to queue in line before taking the steps up the actual tower. The queue was slow-moving because the staircase is narrow and the steps themselves were quite steep making it challenging particularly for those with knee pains. Once we made it to the top, we were rewarded with the 360 panoramic views including the famous bridges connecting to Gaia, and the historical city centre with orange rooftops underneath. It can be a workout getting up and down as the tight staircase has to accommodate the constant two-way flow of visitors. Skip it or hit it? This is one of the prominent sites in Porto but be ready for the stairs.

All the great cities have their defining landmarks. Porto has several worthy candidates like Porto…read moreCathedral and Torre dos Clérigos, but I would argue this double-deck metal arch bridge should hold the title. Among the six bridges that cross the Douro River, this is far and away the most distinctive due to the design by Théophile Seyrig, a student of Gustave Eiffel. The resemblance to the Eiffel Tower is there only horizontally with a 172-meter span. That made it the longest of its type in the world at the time of its construction in 1886. The structure features two distinct levels. The upper deck is where Jamie W and I enjoyed the panoramic views of the river with Porto to the north and Vila Nova de Gaia to the south (Video 3). The Porto Metro line passed by pedestrians without incident (Video 2). The lower deck handles both vehicles and pedestrians without the need of climbing steps. CORRESPONDING REVIEWS Porto Cathedral: https://yelp.to/VaFX8OAzu2 Torre dos Clérigos: https://yelp.to/bxdCZlsZFs RELATED - Exploring Porto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/31m_Ir-k4Q

Iconic bridge in the heart of Porto…read more Dom Luís I Bridge is a 19th century double-deck iron bridge spanning 172m across the Douro River between downtown Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. It was designed by a student of Gustave Eiffel who incorporated a metal arch reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower that blends modern design with versatility to this day. The upper level is used by metro streetcars while the lower level 45m below it for cars. Each offers a unique perspective to those of us who walk across it. From Gaia, many locals and tourists alike come for the sunset view next to this UNESCO world heritage landmark. At golden hour, the view of the bridge was picturesque with Porto's historic backdrop and drifting boats under the bridge. While huge crowds gathered at Jardim do Morro with a tree obstructed view, we found the best view to be on the other side above it at Miradouro da Serra do Pilar by the monastery. Don't try climbing Pedra dos Gatinhos, as it was fenced off along the path underneath the monastery. While bridge viewpoints at golden hour are busy, we felt the energy of local musicians playing relaxing tunes. This bridge can also be viewed from the Teleférico de Gaia cable car including during sunset. After dinner the bridge is brightly illuminated and we observed locals gathering merrily at Jardim do Morro. Conveniently there's a metro station nearby for the streetcar which crosses Dom Luís I Bridge back to Porto. Skip it or hit it? Walk it twice if you can for both upper & lower bridge crossings experiences.

Born in Lisbon in 1798, Dom Pedro I was the founder and first ruler of the Empire of Brazil. Later…read moreas Petro IV of Portugal, he reigned briefly in 1826 before abdicating his throne to his eldest daughter, Dona Maria II. But then her throne was usurped by Prince Don Miguel, Pedro I's younger brother (and I imagine, Maria's uncle). Pedro I invaded Portugal at the head of an army in July 1832, he ended up involved in a conflict that took over the entire Iberian Peninsula in a struggle between proponents of Liberalism and those seeking a return to Absolutism. Unfortunately, he died of tuberculosis shortly after he and the liberals were victorious. He was hailed by contemporaries and by posterity as a key figure who helped spread the liberal ideals that allowed Brazil and Portugal to move to representative forms of government. This equestrian statue of Dom Pedro IV features him holding a document in his right hand. It symbolizes the new national charter of representative government.

This modern statue of Bishop António Ferreira Gomes sits right near the tower of the Clérigos…read moreChurch and today served as the meeting point for my walking tour of Porto. Bishop Gomes was a Portuguese Roman Catholic bishop, and is considered one of the most notable figures of Portuguese Catholic hierarchy in the 20th century. First appointed by Pope Pius XII as bishop of Portalegre (about 300 kilometers southeast of Porto), from 1949 to 1952. He was appointed bishop of Porto in 1952, a position that he held until 1982. He opposed the regime of Portuguese prime minister António de Oliveira Salazar, writing a letter that was supposed to be private but was made public. In the letter, he criticized the PM and it eventually caused Salazar to exile Gomes abroad until a new President of Portugal allowed his return in 1969. He eventually retired as Bishop of Porto in 1982 and died in 1989. [Review 9841 overall, 1419 of 2018.]

Fonte dos Leões (Fountain of the Lions) is a 19th century fountain in the Praça de Parada Leitão…read morenear the famous Igreja dos Clérigos. According to sources, it is a copy of the fountain in the Town Hall Square of Leicester, England. The central fountain has a cruciform layout with the group of sculptures of winged lions at the base. The water flows from each of their mounts into the fountain. It's a great meeting spot!

This 'Fountain of the Lions' located in the downtown of Porto, is a gorgeous centerpiece for the…read morecity with interesting stories surrounding it. For instance, JK Rowling lived here for awhile after writing the first Harry Potter and it's said that she based the Gryffindor icon off of the fierce lions in this fountain. There is a gorgeous book store (Livraria Lello) close by this fountain that she took inspiration from for the Diagon Alley bookstore with the crazy staircase. It's also been named one of the most beautiful bookstores in the country. Definitely come explore this area, as EVERYTHING around it is gorgeous. This fountain is also in front of of a university where the students literally do where capes around as if Harry Potter has come to life. It's awesome!

This statue located in the João Chagas Garden / Jardim da Cordoaria remembers Ramalho Ortigão…read more(1836-1915) who was a famous Portuguese writer of the late 19th century and early 20th century. A proponent of the literary trend of Romanticism, he became involved in a struggle with a group opposed to it. It became quite heated, to the point where he even fought a duel with one of those writers, Antero de Quental. He was co-author of "The Mystery of the Sintra Road", widely considered to be the first Portuguese detective story.

Near the restaurant but not actually the restaurant, this historical marker along the Douro…read moreriverside. The caption reads: "From the 18 doors and hatches built in the wall in the 16th century, this is the only one that's been kept until our days. This hatch had a gothic inscription from 1386 and it was used to connect the Fonte Tourina Street and the harbor pier." Yeah, six hundred years. Worth checking out if you're down this way. [Review 9916 overall, 1494 of 2018.]

Located to the right when facing the Centro Portugues de Fotografia (Portuguese Center for…read morePhotography), this is a statue of a man grabbing a naked woman's butt. Yep, that's something worth making a statue for. Amor de Perdição is a 19th-century Portuguese novel by Camilo Castelo Branco. The story has been made into movies, but I don't see them being released outside of Portugal. Amusingly, people have added decals on the lady's bum. It's worth a stop for the Instagram.