Adventurous Maite: 1- Northern Portugal. 4th March

Three weeks in Porto; 1 day in Braga (Northern Portugal) March 2018

Photos 4th March 2018. Sunday. Porto

4th March. When the moment came to say farewell... 💔

Already at the airport of Manises (Valencia)

My flight departing from Valencia at 5.00p.m.

Before boarding my flight

Inside the plane

Overflying the north of Portugal

The flight between Valencia and Porto takes less than an hour and a half...

My Ryanair flight arrived in one and a quarter hours at the Oporto airport...

I used the transport service that connects the Airport to downtown Porto. The driver (a girl) arrived on time and she was really friendly and informative, the vehicle was good... Excellent service cheaper than a taxi. It was a good decision to reserve this service

But... Unfortunately, the weather was dreadful: cold, black clouds, rain, lightning, storms, wind... Impossible that outside worse...

Because of persistent bad weather I basically didn't leave the hotel until the following day

Photos 5th March 2018. Monday. Porto & Braga

My first stroll through the city... On the photo below the old tram

Porto was the first city of the Iberian Peninsula to receive the tram

Rua de Miragaia. Miragaia is one of the most picturesque Neighbourhoods in Porto...

Miragaia (Ribeira) is located at the heart of Porto Unesco world heritage

Cloudy morning

Infante D. Henrique Square. The square is in the historic center of the city and around it are the Stock Exchange Palace, that is owned by Porto Commercial Association, the old Ferreira Borges Market, which is today occupied by Hard Club (an arts and entertainment centre), the churches of São Nicolau and São Francisco de Assis and, of course, the statue of the Infante Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator)

The monument is by Tomás Costa and was erected in 1894. It consists of the statue of the Prince standing next to a globe. There are two sculptural groups at the base of the monument. One represents a figure of Victory leading two steeds and two Tritons, to commemorate the triumph of Portuguese navigations. The other is a female figure, symbolizing the Faith of the Discoveries. At the base, notice the bas-reliefs depicting the capture of Ceuta and showing the Infante in the Sagres Promontory

The historic centre of Porto is declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1996

A must-see: The São Bento Railway Station (Estação Ferroviária de São Bento) considered one of the most beautiful in the world

São Bento Railway Station in Porto was opened to the public in 1916 on the site of a former Benedictine monastery. The structure emanates the city’s typical melancholy and nostalgic air.

Although the train station is very striking from outside, the real beauty lies inside. The main hall is breathtaking with over 20,000 tiles that reflect the history of Portugal

In the hostel where I stayed I met a Vietnamese girl called Thao Nguyen. We decided to visit Braga together 😄😄😄 Braga is definitely one of the most beautiful cities in the north of Portugal and a place to go! It is a highly recommended day trip from Porto, and is easy to travel to

Views from the train window

First photos in Braga

Fountain of Campo das Hortas (Chafariz do Campo das Hortas, 1594) located in the centre of garden space fronting the Arco da Porta Nova in Braga

The Arch of Rua Souto, commonly referred as the Arco da Porta Nova, a Baroque and Neoclassical arch, designed by André Soares in the late 18th century. It was opened in 1512 and since has been traditionally used to present to promote to visiting dignitaries and celebrities. The triumphal arch decorates the western entrance to the medieval wall of the city

Campo das Hortas

If you go to the city of Braga, you can not miss the old town...

Rua da Misericórdia

Paço Square composed of various buildings from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries

The archiepiscopal court with one of the fountains: Castelos Fountain (Fountain of Castles). Also seen the baroque facade of the Nursing School of the Minho University

The Fountain of Castles is located in the Palace Square. The fountain was erected in 1723 by order of the Archbishop Rodrigo de Moura Telles. The whole is surmounted by a female image that symbolizes the city. Its name derives from the representation of castles on the upper basin and the colum

View of the main chapel of the Cathedral of Braga, built in manueline style in the early 16th century. Under the window there is a Madonna with the Child under a gothic canopy between the coat-of-arms of Portugal (left) and that of Archbishop Diogo de Sousa (right)

Junta de Freguesia de São João do Souto. Braga (São José de São Lázaro e São João do Souto) is a civil parish in the municipality of Braga. It was formed in 2013 by the merger of the former parishes São José de São Lázaro and São João do Souto

One of the many old street of Braga... We went up through the old city, and walked past some of the old medieval houses...

Braga is a great tourist destination that combines culture and history, with numerous outstanding tourist attractions... It's frequently regarded as the religious centre of Portugal, and this is confirmed every hour when a cacophony of different church bells ring-out

Braga is home to the oldest cathedral in Portugal, and a day’s sightseeing can provide a glimpse into the importance and extensive history of the city. Within the maze of narrow streets, Gothic churches back onto modern shopping streets and grand baroque buildings surround peaceful squares

Main façade of Braga Cathedral. The entrance gallery (galilee) with three arches is gothic (end of 15th century), but the towers and upper storeys are early baroque (17th century)

Even though Braga is the third largest city of Portugal, it does not have a hectic pace or crowded atmosphere, and is a joy to explore it. I love these calm cities, without stress, with quiet and narrow pedestrian streets...

The Church of São João do Souto built at the end of the 18th century

Arcadia Casa do Chocolate, R. Dom Afonso Henriques 21. Paradise for chocolate lovers

Casa dos Croissants, Rua de S. Marcos

The front facade in azulejo tile of The Café A Brasileira (The Brazilian Cafe), a traditional café situated along the Largo Barão de São Martinho

Avenida da Liberdade, one of the main avenues of the city. It's one of the longest avenues in the city center, linking the Largo de Dezembro to the Republic Square, crossing the parishes of São José de São Lázaro and São João do Souto

Theatro Circo (The Theatre Circo) is a 20th-century, open since 1915 and after undergoing some renovation in the meantime, an architectural icon and the pride of Braga’s inhabitants. Its main mission is to serve the city and the local community, while presenting itself as a cultural space that aggregates different styles and personalities

Stunning buildings... Zara store, the Theatro Circo, etc.

Carmo Church, in Portuguese, Igreja do Carmo, is a Portuguese 17th-century church with a Latin cross Floor plan and a single nave. The church is part of the Carmelite Convent, founded in 1653.

The main façade (from 1911) follows the plan of the tower façade, and the interior decoration features baroque golden woodwork retables and neoclassical retables and tiles

After spending time walking through the city we stopped at this little rustic tavern for lunch... Velhos Tempos was a typical tavern with wooden beams, lots of bric-a-brac and a menu of tasty mainstays... The portions are huge so is better order only half sizes...

The entrance

A list of choices and prices

The atmosphere was very traditional, and in the heart of the historical center of Braga.

The food, staff and space were great... Highly recommended!

Portuguese flag

So... as you can see, it was a nicely decorated place

Potatoes

Decorated with old furniture...

Nguyen and I

Rustic and antique objects

Wines bottles of different ages

Old Portuguese books

Avenida da Liberdade

Bank of Portugal. Another eye-catching building in Republic Square is home to the Bank of Portugal, on the corner of Rua dos Chaos. Its has a granite facade, is 2-storey with large windows protected by dark green bars. The corner of the building is formed by a sort of semi-circular tower topped with a dome on which there are two bronze sculptures, representing a man and a woman

São Francisco square. The Castle of Braga (Torre de Menagem). The keep is all that remains of the ancient Castle of Braga and has been declared a National Monument. It's just behind the archway and the Church of Our Lady of Lapa, in the heart of the city and was built by King Dinis (his coat of arms is on the facade). It's an embattled square tower 30 meters high, with 3 floors that are used as an exhibition hall

S. Francisco's Square

Hotel dos Terceiros, R. dos Capelistas 85

In Conde de Agrolongo Square. Waiting for the bus to go to Bom Jesus do Monte. Along with being an enthralling city, Braga is also the setting for one of the finest monuments of Northern Portugal, the Bom Jesus do Monte. This wonderful church and much famed baroque staircase, which depict the ascent to heaven, are only 5km from the city and are a must for any trip to Braga...

Multitude of pigeons

Convent of the Savior (Convento do Salvador)

Bom Jesus do Monte is an easy 20-minute bus ride from Braga and makes a perfect half-day trip... It's is a sanctuary like no other in Portugal. His monumental baroque staircase is quite famous and photographed a lot because it offers visitors great perspectives. A place not to be missed and a great day trip from Porto. Let me show you around with my pictures...

The surroundings are simply spectacular

This is the entrance of the Via Sacra with baroque architecture

We walked through the archway which marks the entrance to the sanctuary. The archway leads to a long zigzag flight of steps through a wooded area...

On the way you can see small chapels dedicated to the Sacred Way...

Well worth to spend a leisurely visit strolling the grounds, walking in gardens and wooded trails... The easiest way to get up is by car and the last few yards by foot. If there is a parking spot. The other way up is the Elevador de Bom Jesus, also very easy.... But, of course, it was clear to us, the best way up was by foot... On the top there are always a lot of tourists, but it is much better you can stay there for a few hours and have a look around in the gardens

During our walk, we met a Brazilian lovely girl, Luzia, who took these pics

Stairway and church of Bom Jesus do Monte...

The staircases themselves are Baroque in style, with granite steps and a white façade

Nguyen, Luzia and me

Traditional Portuguese pavement in front of stairs of Bom Jesus do Monte

Façade of the church of Bom Jesus

Viewpoint

Superb views... The sunset from the terrace at the top

We really enjoyed the climbing of about 600 steps until the top...

It was not as hard as it seemed. We thought we would get more tired

Finally the pictures inside the famous sanctuary Bom Jesús do Monte

Crucifixion scene. General view of the interior of the church. There is a huge representation of Calvary with life-size figures at the main altar

Azulejos tilework on the hilltop terrace

Wonderful green landscapes... The Sanctuary has a total area of about 30 hectares and, even though the property belongs to the Confraternity of Bom Jesus do Monte, it is accessible to the public

The Sanctuary itself is an ensemble which includes the portico, the pathways, the squares, the chapels, the fountains, the monumental stairway topped by the church – and its densely forested Cerca [Enclosure], a picturesque park with lakes built to naturally blend with the landscape, artificial grottos, buildings and structures of a diverse nature and serving different purposes. The Sanctuary and the Cerca are an integral part of each other – the mount molded itself to house the Sanctuary and they complete each other, forming a singular ensemble of outstanding architectural and landscape value, which embodies a this amazing sacred mount

Beautiful fountain and a man-made cave at the top... Located next to cathedral

Peaceful atmosphere with fountains, caves, gazebos and lakes welcome us to a moment of relaxation and meditation.... Perfect place to enjoy nature's grand beauty with amazing sweeping views

Very nice lake in the woods where you can hire a row boat

Colourful traditional wooden boats on the lake of the garden...

A great place to relax and unwind... a place to let the stress of the day melt away

The cobbled track

More pics of the cave and the fountain

Aerial view of Braga city

Pictures during the return to the city

Sanctuary of the Bom Jesus do Monte viewed from a distance...

Panoramic views over buildings of the city of Braga

Elegant house surrounded by a beautiful landscape

More general views of the city

When we arrived in the city the sun was going down

Av. Padre Julio Fragata. Crossing the bridge over the road

Largo da Senhora-a-Branca... old square with picaresque buildings, in an area close to the University of Minho, one of Portugal’s leading educational institutions

A cross: Cruzeiro da Senhora-a-Branca

Monument to Pope John Paul II: The three Pyramids of Braga. After the visit of Pope John Paul II to Braga, which happened in May 1982, a monument was erected to mark the anniversary. The venue was the Central Avenue. The monument is the work of sculptor Zulmiro de Carvalho and the architect Domingos Tavares

Convento Dos Congregados Church

Stunning church designed by architect André Soares that features two bell towers. The façade also has two notable statues by sculptor Manuel Nogueira da Silva - these represent saints Filipe de Nery and Martinho de Dume and were the final part of the church to be completed in 1964

Braga’s Medieval Republic Square (Praça da República) is commonly known as the Arcade due to the arches originally dating from the 16th century. The square is the prettiest part of the city and one of the most emblematic areas. A great place for people watching either from one of the many cafes or the nearby park. In one of the most emblematic areas. Right in the iconic building of La Arcada (The Arcade), you can find Café Vianna, which is one of the city’s landmarks since its foundation around 1856 or 1858

Before returning to Porto we stopped at the delightful 19th-century salon style Café Brasileira, the café of cafés... I didn't eat or drink anything but I enjoyed the place

Garden of Santa Barbara (Jardim de Santa Barbara)

The Garden of Santa Barbara gets its name from the XVII century fountain that you can find there and which is surmounted by a statue of Saint Bárbara that once belonged to the Convent of Remédios.

Located in the historic center of Braga, this is a public garden recommended by inhabitants of Braga and it’s definitely photo-worthy thanks to its bright colors and well maintained flowers. In the background, there is the Medieval wing of the Episcopal Palace of Braga, which gives the Santa Bárbara Garden a personality from yesteryear and transforms it in an even more special place