Adventurous Maite: 5- Northern Portugal. 10th March 2018 (Porto)

Photos 10th March 2018 (Saturday). Porto

10 marzo. Caminhos do Romantico. Palacio do Cristal - Jardins dos Sentimentos. Jardins do Palacio de Cristal. Galeria do Palacio. Biblioteca Municipal. Almeida Garrett. Por la tarde: Shopping Centre Cidade do Porto. Boa Safra Mercado. Mercado de Bom Sucesso. Boavista. Casa da Musica.
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This Saturday was one of my best days in Porto... I went with my friend Daniel to visit some beautiful places that I've never been before...

Douro River

Arrábida Shopping (Vila Nova de Gaia)

Travessa do Campo do Rou

The Romantic Routes are formed by 5 thematic roads that aim to show a little of the contradictions that existed in Porto on the eighteen century, romantic and bourgeois, rural and industrial. The first road, "Porto do Romantismo", has the gardens of Palácio de Cristal as its starting point. The walk continues through the Entre-Quintas Street and, going round the Macieirinha Street you will find the atmosphere of an eighteen century suburbs, the place of election of the English who had their business on Nova...

“Caminhos do Romântico” (Romantic Promenades) is an organized path trough all these places. The path is marked with informational signs and tips, so you won’t lose yourself

Walking during a beautiful sunny morning, we did a few pauses from time to time...

Behind us was the front courtyard and entrance to the Romantic Museum

You'll find the Romantic Museum (Museu Romantico) at 220 Rua de Entre-Quintas very near the Crystal Palace Park and Gardens to the west of the city centre. This museum recreates 19th century life linking it with the romantic movement and Porto...

Crystal Palace Gardens

The most romantic gardens of Porto stretch over an area of 8 hectares and were projected in the XIX century by the German Arquitech Émile David. Here you have an amazing view of the Douro River. The best place for a great, romantic date while you enjoy the wonderful silence that is characteristic of the garden in a place unique and full of history. It is opened every day from 08:00h to 19:00h.

Don't forget your camera. This place is perfect for a photo shoot.

The park is a treat to the eyes with its breath taking views of the Duoro river. It abounds in exotic and diverse plant and animal species. It also features elegant fountains and allegorical statues... By following the meandering alleys of the park, the tourists can come across themed gardens, such as Jardim dos Sentimentos (Garden of Feelings), Jardim das Plantas Aromaticas (Garden of Aromatic Plants) and Jardim do Roseiral (Garden of Roses). All these splendid sights are the work of Emilio David, the landscape gardener who designed the park

Small fountain in Crystal Palace Gardens

The Crystal Palace is a wonderful park with free-Wifi spots. Come here and watch the peacocks, walk through the rose gardens and admire different varieties of trees, the fountains… Come here for the most impressive and breathtaking views over Porto, Gaia and the Douro... If you love nature and love photography, this experience is for you!

Roosters at the Crystal Palace Gardens

Keep your eyes wide open during the walk,

wherever you look you’ll find something you like...

Sitting on a stone staircase looking at the roosters and pigeons

This is a beautiful magical place...

The best photography spot in Porto is by far this fairy-tale tower, which places you right in the heart of the story. Wandering through the gardens, you’ll surely discover this unique, hidden gem, one of Porto’s many wonderful secrets

Stone staircase

The Crystal Palace Gardens are ideal for a relaxing afternoon. You can start by strolling Tilias Avenue and take a peek at the viewpoints that offer breathtaking views of Vila Nova de Gaia and the Douro River! Elsewhere in the Palacio de Cristal Gardens you will find more viewpoints with equally magnificent views...

One of the several viewpoints. A bench at the viewpoint makes

this a great place to spend a few minutes and enjoy the view

19th century Carlos Alberto Chapel (Charles Albert of Sardinia)

Hidden amongst the greenery of the Crystal Palace Park is this small chapel built in honor of Charles Albert, King of Sardinia. After being defeated by the Austrian army at the Battle of Novara, he gave up his thrown to his son Victor Emmanuel and went into exile in Porto, where he later died at the Quinta das Macieiras

Another fountain with a sculpture...

With a good weather it's beautiful to watch the seagulls in the fountain

My friend taking pics

The Arrábida Bridge as seen from the Crystal Palace Gardens

Avenida das Tílias (Linden Avenue)

Free-running peacocks

Small theatre

The Romantic ideals - a union with an involving dense and untamable Nature - were recreated in the Gardens of the Palácio de Cristal (1864). These gardens with their lakes and artificial caves were designed over a high located plain where there was a tower that served as guide for the boats that entered the mouth of the Douro River - the Torre da Marca - existed. Few locations of the city of Oporto still mantain a romantic flavour like the space that extends from the Gardens of Palácio de Cristal to Quinta da Macieirinha

Feira do Livro do Porto. Agustina Bessa-Luís: "O amor é invisível no habitual"

The Biblioteca Municipal Almeida Garrett

This modern library, wich opened in 2001, is situated in the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal, a space for information and vocational leisure, along Rua Entrequintas. In order to serve the public, the library distributes its collections and equipment in diverse areas, providing support services. The library's reception area is the local with access to different parts of the building, including auditorium, stacks and gallery

Library opening hours

The interior of the library

Galeria Municipal do Porto

Books in Portuguese

Literature in Spanish language

This library offers a wide range of services beyond books, children workshops, films, etc. The gallery room has usually interesting exhibitions and there's also an auditorium with frequent activity. On Saturdays there’s also book reading sessions for children...

The kids playground in Crystal Palace Gardens

The Garden of the Museu Romantico da Quinta da Macieirinha

I love these steep cobbled streets

União Desportiva de Massarelos

Tram 1 : "Infante-Passeio Alegre", follows the river Douro to reach Foz do Douro. This trip in an authentic charming tram is full of romance and a great way to discover in passing the Solar do vinho do porto (the wine institute), the Museo Carro Electrico and some splendid buildings and landscapes. A tram comes along every twenty minutes or so and they run between 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon

Port Wine Museum

The Port Wine Museum (Museu do Vinho do Porto), housed in an old 18th century warehouse, opened in 2004 and is a tribute to the Port Wine long tradition. The museum is located a few yards from Alfândega, towards Massarelos, in Cais das Pedras, just by the river, in a beautiful environment that reminds us of the late 18th century.

In the museum, you can see how wine is made, its history, its past and its present. Antique pieces related to the production and transport of wine, details about stories around the wine, everything is available at Museu do Vinho do Porto (Port Wine Museum). Wine bottles as old as 200 years old, old labels, ancient wardrobe of the wine producers, the transport ships through the Douro, everything is on display at the museum and it’s really worth the visit

Viela José da Mestra

HF Ipanema Porto HF Ipanema Porto located

in Boavista, 500 metres from the Boavista Roundabout.

Shopping Cidade do Porto, a medium-sized mall, situated near
the Rotunda da Boavista , the Bom Sucesso Market and Casa da Música

Shopping Cidade do Porto has 90 stores, distributed by 4 floors which provide the customer with a wide and reference offer in the heart of Oporto city. It offers as well a covered parking so that they can shop with security and comfort and can use the car wash service

Saramago's books

Dictionaries and grammar books

Zoofeira, the pet store of Shopping Cidade do Porto

Inside the shopping centre

Porto Music House (Casa da Música)

Probably the most recognizable and modern building in all of Porto. The Casa da Música is an architectural prodigy of the Dutchman Rem Koolhaas and is currently the auditorium where the Porto National Orchestra performs. The project was completed in 2005 and its cubic shape soon became an icon of the city

The reception hall

The exterior of the Casa Da Música with the red hand sculpture

The sculpture titled ‘Middle Way’ by the Romanian artist Bogdan Rața celebrates the friendship between Portugal and Romania. The inauguration took place on 3 March (just a week ago) and was attended by the Romanian Ambassador Ioana Bivolaru and by the Mayor of Porto, Rui Moreira.

Born out of the creativity of renowned Romanian visual artist Bogdan Rata, it revolves around human body movements and it celebrates the hundredth anniversary of the Portugal-Romania diplomatic relations.

A wide community of Romanians lives in Portugal. Former monarch Carol II and historian and essayist Mircea Eliade were in exile in the country.

The ‘Middle Way’ statue is part of the ‘Moving Monuments’ project. This is a very large undertaking that has been featured at the Liverpool Biennial in 2014, and in 2016 it was placed next to St. George Hall, building listed World Heritage by UNESCO.

Avenida da Boavista, the longest avenue in Porto

Boavista Roundabout Garden... It may seem like something of a contradiction in terms but this quiet little garden is located on one of the busiest roundabouts in Porto. Despite its location you will always find a peaceful, shaded spot amongst the trees of this circular island. Towards the centre more or less all views of the roads beyond are obscured, as is much of the noise. The Rotunda da Boavista (or Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque to give it its official name) is often regarded as the centre of the city. Try a search for Porto on Google maps and this is exactly where the pin appears

Peninsula War Monument

This memorial commemorates the heroes who were killed during the Peninsular War, which took place from 1808 to 1814 between the Spanish, Portuguese and British on the one hand and the French under command of Napoleon on the other side. It's set in the middle of a huge and busy round-a-bout in the district of Boavista. Despite being in the middle of a busy round-a-bout the monument is set in a peaceful tree-lined garden

The Peninsular War was fought between 1808 and 1814 with the British and Portuguese on one side and the French on the other. Spain was also involved with fighters on both sides. The war ended in victory for the Portuguese and British, which is what this monument celebrates. On top of the 20 metre column is a lion, representing the Portuguese and British, dominating an eagle, representing the forces of Napoleon...

Mercado de Bom Successo - Bom Sucesso Market

The Bom Sucesso Market was built in 1952, here various types of products were sold (meat, fish, vegetables, ...). With the passing years it began losing clientele to more modern supermarkets and shopping malls.

Currently, due to rehabilitation, has a new concept more adequate to today, its old stands are now gastronomic spaces filled with offers from the most varied regions of Portugal. Here you can taste from savory, cheese, traditional cakes to Portuguese wines and more. There is an open gallery filled with 44 food and drink stalls. Location: Praça do Bom Sucesso, 74-90.