If one church visit isn't enough how about a double-church…read more Igreja dos Carmelitas is one of the unique churches in Porto's historic streets, connected to its adjacent twin, Igreja do Carmo. These two churches nearly blend together. Built in the 17th century, the Carmelitas side on the left for nuns is classic baroque. And unlike the Carmo side on the right for monks, entry was free when we visited making it a convenient pit stop between other historic sites. There is even a 3 ft wide narrow house between both churches that traditionally segregated Carmelite monks from nuns. Before going in, admire the elegant azulejo blue tiled wall on one side and the magnificent bronze Fountain of the Lions nearby, thought to be the inspiration for Harry Potter's Gryffindor crest. Inside the church feels quiet and intimate with decor featuring soft gold accents and traditional woodwork. Everything felt restrained except for the gilded main altar with intricate woodwork and a tiered mantlepiece dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Virgin Mary). Skip it or hit it? It's a quick and free visit in this area of Porto worth exploring.

Two churches. One facade. Zero personal space. These side by side beautiful churches are separated…read moreby the world's narrowest house (bless that tenant). The Carmo side is tiled and extra while the Carmelitas side is older and more humble. Legend has it, the tiny house in between was built to keep the monks and nuns from getting... too social if you know what I mean. The drama!

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.

Well I've tried to make it a habit to bring visitors to this metro stop, at Bolhão mercado. When…read moreyou come up the escalator, this greets you.

This is one of the most unique churches I've ever seen. It's located in the center of town near a…read morelot of restaurants and shops. The ceramic tiles on the outside make it very beautiful. There's lots of people walking by and taking pictures at different parts of the church to get it in the background. When you walked inside, there's a lot of peopleso I didn't spend too much time in there.

Porto Cathedral is a trek but I think it's worth it. The inside of the church has some nice…read morearchitecture and some cool winding staircases to explore. I love the rooftop with the blu/white porcelain murals that make for great photos. The square surrounding the church has amazing views of the city and it feels lively with street performers. We had a really nice visit here!

A historic cathedral befitting of beautiful Porto…read more Porto Cathedral was the first historic landmark we visited in the city's downtown. It's located on a hilltop with stunning view across the city's bright orange rooftops. Built in the 12th century, the imposing facade once doubled as a fortress church. €3 provided us entry to the free main nave as well as the picturesque monastery cloisters, terrace and courtyard. Gothic cloister walls showcase biblical art made from elegant azulejo blue tiles. We encountered many tourists posing for photos. From there we explored the interior rooms as well as the above terrace which revealed another view of the city with Clérigos Tower and Douro River in the distance. There is also an opulent treasure house with pink Portuguese marble decor. The central nave is flanked with thick Romanesque columns that led us to a main altarpiece richly adorned with gold leaf Baroque wood carvings surrounded by more pink marble walls and steps. Looking up on the opposite end was a massive rose portal window with intricate stained glass. To the left is a silver altar behind a hanging lamp in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament that was saved from the Napoleonic French invasion. Skip it or hit it? It's worth setting aside an hour to explore this important local landmark.

When standing in front of Igreja do Carmo, we are in fact looking at two churches with a very…read morenarrow house, called Casa Escondida or the Hidden House, between them. The right side is Igreja do Carmo (built 1756 to 1768), a catholic church and is popular for its rococo/Romanesque style with the tile exterior. The left side is Igreja dos Carmelitas (mid-17C) that may or may not be open for visitors. The neat thing about visiting Igreja do Carmo is that the admission fee provides access to uncommon corners and behind-the-scene places, such as standing at the pulpit, the catacombs with a mummified sister on display (yeah, for reals!), relics (i.e. fingers and bones of saints), a museum, and roof access. The altar is very ornate. A unique viewing point is accessible that may have been a private corner for the very wealthy or royalty. And, I can kiss the foot of Jesus (no, I did not). The 3-storey Casa Escondida or the Hidden House has a wall-to-wall width that is supposed to be 1 meter wide (according to their website). It looks wider than that. Legend has it that this house was built to prevent contact between the monks of Igreja do Carmo and the nuns in the Igreja dos Carmelitas. The reality is likely less juicy, to fill an unsightly gap. It also housed guests and held secret meetings during the Napolean invasion in 1832. Definitely recommend seeing this church with the unique access.

Two churches. One facade. Zero personal space. These side by side beautiful churches are separated…read moreby the world's narrowest house (bless that tenant). The Carmo side is tiled and extra while the Carmelitas side is older and more humble. Legend has it, the tiny house in between was built to keep the monks and nuns from getting... too social if you know what I mean. The drama!

What a beautiful church! I can only speak for the outside, becaue we only peeked inside since there…read morewas a small fee. Thait seemed like what most people were doing, but just the facade is a sight to behold in itself. There's plenty of tilework on the exterior of the church to admire and the blues are so pretty! We came by on a Monday at around 4 PM and it was pretty quiet at that time. Good stop to make while in Porto if you're into unique tilework.

The Church of Saint Ildefonso is really a must when visiting the City of Porto. The beautiful tiled…read moreexterior immediately draws the visitor into its ornate interior and exquisite altar. The visit costs one Euro and it's definitely worth it. We were lucky to have been there when there was music playing adding to the atmosphere. I personally loved it so much that just had to return a second time to purchase a souvenir from the shop where I was well taken care of by a lovely gentleman. I will definitely have to come back next year and take the tour of the museum. Muito obrigado to the staff of the wonderful jewel of a place. Ben Urizar - New York, New York

There are so many beautiful churches in Europe and Porto, Portugal is no exception. The…read morearchitecture in this church is so detailed and amazing. It's a definite must visit on a trip to Porto.

From downtown Porto, you can ride the metro or just walk, but there is a ramp/incline from street…read morelevel to the higher ground of the Mosteiro. I would recommend timing your visit for sunset as it is an absolutely spectacular view of Porto from here. On the minus side, later in the evening means that the Mosteiro will be closed. [Review 9902 overall, 1480 of 2018.]