Portugal has been a very religious country throughout its history (less so now according to my tour…read moremanager). During their ultra-wealthy days from colonialism with gold and gems flooding in from Brazil and Angola, ultra-fancy churches in the scale of compounds, sanctuaries, and more were built. Bom Jesus do Monte in Braga is such an example. The present sanctuary started construction in 1722. Other than the Baroque church at the top, one set of zigzag shaped stairways are dedicated to the Five Senses each represented by a fountain and one set of stairways is dedicated to the Three Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity, each with its fountain. Chapels on either side of these staircases have sculptures dedicated to the Passion of Christ. In addition, they have a huge garden, a shop, historical items, a funicular (called elevator) and much more. See their website for more than what my photos can convey. https://bomjesus.pt/?lang=en We visited on a day of pouring rain, and it was still fantastic. They have different winter vs summer schedules for every location. Best to check their website here: https://bomjesus.pt/informations/?lang=en The location is about one hour drive from Porto. It is a great day trip from Porto. Be sure to visit Braga, the historical center also.

This place was amazing, the architecture and gardens were so beautifully kept up…read more Of course the history is awesome, you wonder what it would have felt to be alive when it was built.

Our tour only stopped here for 20 minutes after a long bathroom break - too few booths (two for…read morewomen and one for men) with too many of us, on a rainy afternoon. We missed ton!

Last year when we visited Guimaraes it was a holiday and the castle was closed…read more You have to purchase tickets on line- barcode available at the entrance. Staff check your online tickets and you're allowed in. When my husband was younger, he indicated he was actually able to walk in the castle. The staff stated about 3 years ago, stairs and trail were built to conserve the castle. Great views from the top of the castle. There are huge boulders on the grounds and as part of the castle itself. Street parking.

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.

Avenida dos Aliados is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Porto. This large avenue…read morefeatures the local government's city hall and other buildings and statues that were built in the 19th and 20th centuries, and it has a central square where locals meet and hold events. My tour guide took my husband and me on a drive down this avenue. We liked seeing the architecture of the city hall and the statue of King Dom Pedro IV.

Monument of Pedro, short history of how Porto was named. Near central bank. It is said body of king…read morein in Brazil but heart remains in Porto

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!