Porto day 1 - Churches of Porto
As we arrived in Porto in the middle of the day, our first thing to do was to take lunch. What other better thing to try in Porto than their traditional "Francesinha" 😏. Honestly, I expected more from it; it was too much bread for me, but overall it was very tasty. After lunch, we decided to take a walk in the surrounding area and start to tick some of the objectives I’ve noted down for this trip. However, we do not stay much in Porto, we have only 2 days here.
I will note down the objectives I found more interesting to visit, or just admire from the outside. For the most of them we arrived too late to enter or just thought that the cost is too much and only studied the architecture from the outside and reading the outdoor panels 😅. Because the city is pretty crowded in buildings, some of the pictures will not show the whole construction; but you can find more pictures online.
Sao Bento – is a distinguished train station from year 1910. Its main vestibule has its walls covered with ajulejo tiles. Ajulejo is iconic for Portgual and it consists in glazed blue ceramic tiles, having its origins in 14th century, and are used to decorate the streets, buildings and monuments of Portuguese cities. Mostly every house has an ajulejo tile displayed on the exterior wall of their house, mostly right above the entrance door.
Igreja do Carmo – There are actually two churches: Carmo Church on the right and Carmelitas Church on the left. They are separated by one of the world’s narrowest houses which was built in order to avoid any contact between the nuns and the monks. Carmelitas Church was built in 17th century and it was used as barracks during the French Invasion of Porto. Carmo Church was built in 18th century in the Baroque style and is more spectacular because of its outside facade which is covered in azulejo. The churches can be visited and also the little house and the catacombs. The price for the entrance is 3,5€.
Santo Ildefonso – is a Catholic church from 18th century. In my opinion it is one of the most beautiful churches in Porto. I think this is mostly due to its facade which is almost entirely covered in ajulejo tiles. This offers the church a note of brightness and happiness. The entrance into the church is free.
Porto Cathedral (Se de Porto) – The cathedral was build in the 12th century in Romanesque style. It underwent a number of improvements especially in the Gothic period in the 18th century. Inside the Cathedral, the vestry, the cloister, the Chapel of Joao Gordo, and an exhibition of sacred art, are all noteworthy. Due to its localization on top of a hill, it also offers great panoramic views over the city of Porto. The entrance cost is 3€.
Igreja dos Grilos – A church that was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century in a mannerist style. In the interior there is a curious reredos of Our Lady of Purification in carved wood and gilt and a neoclassic panel. Right next to the church, there is an archeology section exhibit. The collection is rich and varied, from prehistory until the end of the Roman rule in Portugal. The Confessions Gallery is an explanatory exhibition on the life of Christ, from birth to death, made up of small nuclei: Prelude, Annunciation and Birth, Childhood, Public Life and lastly Testimonies of Faith.
Chapel of Souls – The chapel was build in 18th century and its exterior is, once more, made out of azulejo, of course 😄. But what makes this chapel more special is the fact that the blue & white tiles are presenting scenes from the lives of Saints Francis of Assisi and Catherine. I am not really sure if it can be visited or not because what it seemed to be the entrance was always always covered with grid.
Igreja Monumento de Sao Francisco – is a 14th century Franciscan church with a very impressive interior due to its elaborate woodwork and gold decorations. The entrance cost is 8€.
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