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Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão
23 November, 2024 / ,

It is a historic building located in Praça de Carlos Alberto, in the parish of Vitória, in the city of Porto, built in the mid-18th century by the nobleman José Alvo Brandão.

In the 1840s, António Bernardino Peixe rented the palace and moved his inn in Rua do Bonjardim to this location.

What made this inn famous was the stay, between 19 and 27 April 1849, of the exiled King Charles Albert of Sardinia, while he waited for the Quinta da Macieirinha house to be prepared, where he died on 28 July of the same year.

Since 1996, a number of Porto City Council departments have been operating here, namely the Municipal Directorate of Culture, the Urban Archaeology Office and the Numismatics Office.

Here we find the Materials Bank, an innovative project that promotes the safeguarding of materials that characterise the city’s image, collecting them from dilapidated buildings to be demolished or altered.

These include decorative and constructive elements from buildings in Porto, such as pieces of stucco from Avelino Ramos Meira’s workshop, as well as tiles with many patterns from the 17th to 20th centuries, as well as street signs collected over the years, and wooden, iron and stonework artefacts.

Also housed in the palace is the Triplex, which has a series of exhibition rooms on the ground floor.

Parque das Virtudes
23 November, 2024 / , ,

Next to the Fonte das Virtudes there is a very peculiar vertical garden, which also belonged to the Casa dos Albuquerques.

It’s a terraced park in the valley where the Rio Frio used to run, which was designed by José Marques Loureiro, a landscape gardener, and which was owned by the Companhia Hortícola Portuense at the end of the 18th century.

This garden has a remarkable variety of tree species, as it was used for many years as a florist’s shop selling plants.
Today it is municipal property and is full of tall trees, including the largest Ginkgo Balboa in the country, at around 35 metres.

It has an entrance at the bottom, on Rua Azevedo de Albuquerque, and another at the top, behind the Palace of Justice.

It’s a hidden garden, known to few, but definitely worth a visit, with a fantastic view over the River Douro.

Miragaia
22 November, 2024 / ,

Miragaia began to be populated in 1243 and was a small fishing village by the river. Miragaia beach, located above the old river beach, was frequented by local fishermen.

Miragaia was a fishing area par excellence, as it allowed boats to anchor in a safe and sheltered way, given its geographical location next to the River Douro, and also bathed by the River Frio, which supplied the town with fresh water.

The conditions of the land, with its long stretches of sand, also made it possible to locate shipyards where countless vessels were built, including the fleet that Infante D. Henrique the Navigator ordered to be built in Porto for the conquest of Ceuta in 1415.
Miragaia was already linked to the city, including the wall that King Afonso IV built, which he developed on his way west, and which was only completed during the reign of King Fernando.

Within this wall, King Manuel I built the Porta Nobre (Noble Gate) to enlarge the old Praia de Miragaia wicket. It extended from this gate to Monchique and was known as the “Praia do Mosqueiro” (Mosqueiro Beach). Largo da Praia” is the square that forms Rua de Miragaia, opposite the Customs House.
The Jewish neighbourhood in Miragaia occupied a large space between the beach, the escarpment of Bandeirinha and the Monchique area. They had their own synagogue and private cemetery.

Downtown Miragaia, with its famous arcades, which were the front of the houses overlooking the beach, was gradually invaded by the population of brokers and freight forwarders, and their offices took over the upper floors.

As the river stopped carrying traffic and container loads, there was a counter-cycle: the freight forwarders and offices left, and the people came back.
The Customs House was built on stilts and with direct contact between the river’s waters and the land, through open culverts for the opposite movement.

In the days when the river was large and there were no dams on the Douro, as soon as the waters began to threaten the Ribeira area, Miragaia would see them threatening their houses.

In 1966, the water was so great that it sometimes entered the houses again and the boats once more travelled up Rua de Miragaia.

The struggle of the people of Miragaia reflects their desire and will, which stands up fighting and honoured as descendants of the sailors who lived here.

This typical and charming neighbourhood offers beautiful views of the River Douro from the highest areas.

O Porto em Miniatura
21 November, 2024 / , , ,

‘Porto em Miniatura is a unique exhibition that recreates Porto’s most emblematic monuments on a reduced scale.

Each miniature has been crafted with an incredible level of detail, providing a new perspective on the city’s historical heritage.

There are two dozen models: the Clérigos Tower, São Bento Station, the suspension bridge, the monumental Cathedral complex, Quinta do Viso, Cadeia da Relação and various churches and chapels, as well as beautiful kiosks and the traditional urinals of yesteryear.

The materials used in construction are the most varied, such as wood, corticite, copper, brass and plaster, among others.

The author

Born in Porto on 11 August 1923, Agostinho Conceição Gonçalves Teixeira left a remarkable legacy as the guardian of his hometown’s historical and architectural memory.

His life path, marked by dedication to work and culture, reflects the story of a simple man with a singular passion.

With impressive precision and detail, Agostinho Teixeira dedicated himself to creating miniatures of Porto’s main monuments.

His collection includes around 40 models, including representations of the old Crystal Palace.

His work, initially given to the Foundation for the Social Development of Porto, was exhibited at the Casa de Bonjóia with the aim of raising funds for social purposes.

In 2006, the collection was handed over to Francisco Almeida Lemos, who continues to preserve it, ensuring that the legacy of Agostinho Conceição Gonçalves Teixeira lives on.

Padaria Ribeiro
19 November, 2024 /

The history of Padaria Ribeiro began to be written in 1878, in the old Praça do Pão, in the city of Porto, at a time when bread sellers had their stalls in the square.

At the time, the founders emphasised the tradition and quality of the products – characteristics that their successors have kept alive to this day.

So many years later, Padaria Ribeiro is still a reference in Porto’s pastry and bakery scene…. and tradition is still what it was!

Since 1878, Padaria Ribeiro has been offering visitors the typical flavour of recipes from the past, with a taste for tradition and quality products.

Armazém da Alma
19 November, 2024 / , ,

Located on Pr. Guilherme Gomes Fernandes, Armazém da Alma is a unique space that combines charm and nostalgia.

In this shop, you’ll find a special selection of gifts and souvenirs that capture the essence of the city, as well as a variety of carefully chosen vintage products, ranging from decoration and accessories to collectors’ items.

With a cosy atmosphere full of history, Armazém da Alma is the ideal place for those looking for original gifts or vintage pieces that tell stories and bring a special soul to everyday life.

Porto welcomes National Platform and celebrates 15 years of ESN Porto
19 November, 2024 / , ,

From 8 to 10 November, Porto hosted the National Platform, an event organised by ESN Porto that brought together representatives and volunteers from the various sections of the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) in Portugal. During this weekend of sharing and training, strategies and activities were debated with the aim of strengthening the impact of the international student support network in the country.

In addition to the formal sessions, the meeting included social responsibility initiatives, including the ‘Solidarity Kitchen’ project, where food was donated to the Homeless Support Centre (CASA) and ReFood. The initiative aimed to promote solidarity and the fight against food waste, emphasising ESN’s social commitment.

This edition of the National Platform had a special significance, celebrating ESN Portugal’s 15th anniversary, a milestone that symbolises the network’s ongoing commitment to providing an enriching experience for international students.

To add to this, ESN Porto recently launched a merchandising line dedicated to these students, offering them the chance to take home a unique souvenir of the city.

Praça Carlos Alberto
19 November, 2024 / , ,

This square dates back to distant times and is the result of a junction of the old roads that, leaving together from the Olival Gate of the Fernandina Walls, next to the Cadeia da Relação, led to Braga (via the current Rua de Cedofeita) and Guimarães (via the current Rua das Oliveiras).

The earliest known document dates back to 1638, and at that time it was called ‘Largo dos Ferradores’ (Farriers’ Square), because this was where the mounts were prepared for the journey. It was also a place for inns.

In Largo dos Ferradores, in the eighteenth-century mansion of the Viscounts of Balsemão (where the Porto City Council’s Municipal Directorate for Culture is now located), the Hospedaria do Peixe was located in the mid-nineteenth century.

The square was also popularly known as Feira das Caixas (Box Fair), because the boxes for the luggage that the emigrants took to Brazil were made in one of the carpenters’ tents around here.

In February 1791, the Third Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was inaugurated in this square, with the Carmel Hospital building.

From July 1853 until February 1910, Praça de Carlos Alberto, to be precise, in front of Tabacaria Havaneza, was the terminal stop for the Empreza Portuense de Carros Ripert vehicle, a heavy wooden and iron horse-drawn cart that made the daily connection to São Mamede de Infesta.

On 12 August 1874, the first American car from Oporto, a direct ancestor of the tram, also departed from this square on the route to Cadouços, in Foz do Douro.

For many years, this was the place where the fair for farm labourers and maids was held. It came here from Praça da Corujeira, and from here it was transferred to the Rotunda da Boavista in 1876. The young men and women came from the suburbs and agreed their working conditions here with their future employers.

In the 20th century, on 9 April 1928, the Monument to the Dead of the Great War, designed by Henrique Moreira, was inaugurated in Carlos Alberto Square

The name of this square and the theatre in Rua das Oliveiras pays homage to King Charles Albert of Sardinia, who was stripped of his throne in 1849 after the defeat at the Battle of Novara on 23 March of that year.

He was exiled to Porto for three months before his death.

He lived in the Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão in the same square, and died at Quinta da Macieirinha, where the current Romantic Museum is located.

The Elevador da Ribeira
31 October, 2021 / ,

The Elevador da Ribeira or Lada lift connects the Ribeira do Porto to the half slope of Barredo.

This vertical lift with a walkway, is a free access urban public transport located in the city of Porto.

To go up, go to number 66 in Largo dos Arcos da Ribeira, next to the D. Luis bridge.

The ride is fast and an excellent way to get to the upper part of the city, without having to face slopes and stairs.

It has a security guard on the lower level to safeguard its proper functioning.

Once on the upper level we have a great panoramic view of some bridges and the Gaia quay, as well as very different views of some parts of the river.

The Lada neighbourhood has undergone several alterations and works over the years.

This iron lift was part of this project, it was perfectly framed with its neighbour metallic bridge, and it was ready in 1993, but only in 95 it started working.

A Praça da Ribeira
31 October, 2021 /

Ribeira is one of the oldest and most typical squares in the city of Porto, located on the banks of the Douro River.

Of medieval origin, it has always been quite busy, due to the great economic activity and the presence of a port a few kilometres away.
It was, therefore, an important point of entry and exit of people and goods in the invicta city.

The thirteenth century represented a period of expansion in which Porto grew close to the riverside. Houses, streets, stairs and alleys developed.

At the beginning of the 15th century, the Ribeira teemed with people connected to the multiple activities of the river and the sea, the domain of merchants and a breeding ground for the bourgeois.

Over time it has undergone urban changes. In the 17th century, in an urban plan for the city of Porto, the Praça da Ribeira was altered. Rua de São João was opened, improving the access from Ribeira to the highest part of the city, which, until then, was mainly through Rua dos Mercadores.
Where a 17th century fountain would have existed, a “Cubo” was placed practically in the middle of the square.

Despite all the transformations that occurred in the centre of Porto, the city remained facing the Douro, living in function of its river.

Its intense commercial traffic, always covered by ships, made Ribeira square the economic and social centre of the city.

The picturesque buildings that surround the square and the fantastic proximity and view of the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia, as well as the bridges over the river, make this square a place of unparalleled beauty.

Part of the Historic Centre of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, it is a very popular area with tourists and a concentration of bars and restaurants.

Ribeira is the picture postcard of Porto and one of the most visited areas of the city.