Day 52: Porto

July 15 - Porto is a big deal. It is the second-largest city in Portugal, and records date it back to Roman times. Undoubtedly it is older, perhaps a trading port for the Phoenicians. The word ‘Porto’ is almost certainly the origin of the country’s name.

There is too much to see here for a few days, so we just hit things here and there. Like Lisbon, it is gutted with tourists, making our strolls significantly less fun.

Statue in the Infante Dom Henrique Plaza. He is otherwise known as Prince Henry the Navigator. Love him or hate him, he set the Age of Exploration in motion, resulting in the European colonization of much of the world outside Europe.

Take a tour of the neoclassical Palacio de la Bolsa, a still-operating HQ for national economic matters that has a section open for tours.

Entrance hall of the palace. It was constructed in 1842.

One of the grand rooms of the palace, designed to awe visiting dignitaries who Portugal wanted to pry for business deals.

This was an intriguing design detail of the room shown above. Arabic has been incorporated, an acknowledgement of the Moorish occupation and artistic influence still visible in Portugal.

The rest of the day is wandering around, trying to get a look at what we can. Some places have long lines, and have to pick and choose what we want to spend money on.

An old tram car. Like Lisbon, there are some really old ones.

The dispatch house of St. Francis’ Third Order (18th C).

Porto Cathedral (Gothic style, 12th C).

Some of the great tilework inside the cathedral.

Torre de Clerigos.

Igreja do Carmo, with one of the best tiled exteriors in Porto.

We passed by a street organist who had a live bird collection that Odette was happy to interact with.

Last event of the day was for Odette, a trip to Neonia, an interactive museum with a lot of neon.

At the entrance.

Eat a proper dinner for once at a restaurant near our apartment. Thankfully a local place with no other tourists in it.