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Duque da Ribeira – Symbol and meaning, witness and protagonist of the life of Ribeira
9 August, 2019 / , ,

If you stroll through the Ribeira area, which you will have to do if you come to Porto, it is very likely that you will cross the statue in honor of Deocleciano Monteiro (exact location is at Rua Cimo
do Muro, 12, next to Ponte D . Luís).
If the name tells you absolutely nothing, don’t worry! The same will happen to most people from Porto! But almost everyone will be able to tell you who the “Duque da Ribeira” was, a name by which he has always been and become known. In fact, it is the tradition that it was the mother herself who, in view of the difficulty in pronouncing the name Deocleciano, treated him as “Duke”.
Born in Porto on March 24, 1902 and died on November 9, 1996, the Duke was born and always lived in Ribeira, until his death, being an inseparable and absolutely charismatic figure throughout the twentieth century.

At only 11 years old, he saved a person from drowning in the river. Since then, this heroic brand has never left him, despite his modesty and extreme humility.
The Duke grew up in the river, where all his life there was a boatman. He knew the Douro, its waters, its currents, its life, like no one else! This, coupled with his courage and physical agility and the fact that he is an excellent swimmer, has allowed him throughout his life to save many people from drowning in the sometimes treacherous waters of the river and in other cases from rescue the bodies of those who lost their lives there. Hundreds of people owe their lives – literally – to Duque da Ribeira!
He was also responsible for teaching many children from Ribeira to swim!
Docker, sailor and even actor !, the Duke’s popularity was immense, and it is no wonder that his autograph book contains the signatures of several presidents of the republic and even Queen Elizabeth II of England!

For all this, and finally, a warning: if you venture into the waters of the Douro, do so carefully! We no longer have our Duke guarding the river! He who, according to Mestre José Rodrigues’ bust that would forever perpetuate on the banks of the Douro his memory and the tribute of the city, was “symbol and meaning, witness and protagonist of Ribeira life”.

Street Art
9 August, 2019 / ,

This is an art not yet understood by many. With a negative history associated, where vandalism and the destruction of public spaces were the watchwords, people look suspiciously at the artists who perform these type of works.

Nowadays, in an attempt to change mindsets and demystify this art form, projects are emerging all over the city of Porto.

Raul Pinto has a degree in Graphic Design at ESAD – Escola Superior de Artes e Design and is know in this world of art as Kilos. In 2018, he had his first solo exhibition at the Dedicated Store Porto, entitled “DEDICATED to Kilos”. This year, Suuuper (Porto) held his second solo exhibition at entitled “Shhh!”. Get to know some of his works!

Did you know that… Parque da Cidade of Porto is the only urban park in Europe with a seafront?
8 August, 2019 / ,

With a total area of 83 hectares and around 10km, Parque da Cidade of Porto is the largest urban park in the country and the only one in Europe with a seafront.

The park was designed by the landscape architect Sidónio Pardal, having been inaugurated in 1993 (1st phase) and finished in 2002. In the year 2000, the park was selected by the Ordem dos Engenheiros as one of the “100 most notable works built in the 20th century in Portugal”.

Between lakes, varied fauna and flora, Parque da Cidade also hosts complementary equipment such as Pavilhão da Água and Queimódromo.

Parade of the paper costumes is back to Foz do Douro
7 August, 2019 / , ,

Almost two thousand years ago, Saint Bartholomew died skinned in Turkey andnowadays he inspires a curious festivitycelebrated anually, in August, in the city of Porto.
The celebrations of Saint Bartholomew are one of the most anticipated events in the city, with gastronomic activites, animation and musical shows guaranteed until the beggining of September.
The tradition dates back to the 16th century, when local populations used to bath in the expectation of curing diseases such as stuttering, gout or epilepsy.
Oficially, the celebrations of Saint Bartholomew exist since the 19th century.

The festivities in honour of Saint Bartholomew have as a high point the Court of the Paper Costume. With a lot of work and months of preparation, colored paper sheets turn into authentic costumes and props that fill the streets of Porto with colour and happiness.
The parade finishes, as usual, with a dip in the waters of the Atlantic. The tradition dictates that the rictual “holy bath” should always include seven dives.

Only then will the participants be able to thank Saint Bartholomew for his favors and expect ample healing and protection benefits provided by the saint for the following year.
The parade will take place on the 25th of August and the theme of the Union of Parishes of Aldoar, Foz do Douro e Nevogilde will be a tribute to Sophiade Mello Breyner Andresen in her Centenary.
This is one of the most original events in the city and in the country, and a unique tradition in the world that, year after year, attracts a growing number of participants, both national and international.


Miguel Veiga – An illustrious portuense
29 June, 2019 / , ,

Miguel Luís Kolback da Veiga was born in Oporto on June 30th, 1936, where he died on November 14th, 2016.

An illustrious portuense lawyer, Miguel Veiga was famous for his careful, almost literary production of his procedural pieces and for the brilliant way he presented himself in court.

From early on, he integrated academic movements of opposition to the regime of Salazar, which prevented him years later to be admitted as a university professor.

After the April revolution, in May 1974, he was responsible, alongside with Francisco Sá Carneiro, Magalhaes Mota and Francisco Pinto Balsemão, for the founding of the Popular Democratic Party, now Social Democratic Party, of which he was a member until his death and one of its most brilliant members, even when in order to disagree directly with the course followed. Therefore, against the indications of his party, he was a supporter of Mário Soares in his first candidacy for President of the Republic and, more recently, Rui Moreira, current mayor of Porto.

Although requested to do so, he never exercised governmental functions. He said, in response to invitations received, “not wanting to lose his freedom or leave Oporto,” city of his passion.

Alongside his work, civic and political intervention of high level, Miguel Veiga was still a lover of the arts, from literature to painting, from cinema to sculpture, collecting contributions that often illustrated his public interventions.

The name of Miguel Veiga is important to the history of portuguese democracy, for the search and affirmation of the values ​​of freedom and justice, for the frontality, independence and firmness of character that is so much a part of the good men of Oporto.

Miguel Veiga was also the author of several legal and cultural essays, and a voice present in the written press where throughout his life he collaborated.

He is Grand Officer of the Order of Liberty and received the Medal of Honor from the City, the highest distinction of Porto.

Sereias Stairs
29 June, 2019 / ,

Between Largo da Alfândega and Rua da Bandeirinha, there is a path that reveals the secrets of the old part of the city of Oporto.

The Sereias Stairs, in the popular neighborhood of Miragaia, took the name of the neighboring Sereias Palace. The palace of the mid-eighteenth century was a city residence to the family Cunha Osório Portocarrero and owes its name to the large sculptures that adorn its façade.

From the bustle of traffic on the Arrábida Bridge to the tranquility of the Douro river, the top of the staircase allows us to feel the city and its sounds.

S. João Novo Church
22 May, 2019 / , ,

Built on the escarpment down to the Douro, in a place called “Boa Vista”, stands one of the most significant religious buildings in the historic center of Porto. The Igreja de S. João Novo was built in the middle of the 16th century and displays great artistic and architectural similarities with the Church of S. Lourenço.

The building, with a Latin cross plan, was built just above the former hermitage of S. João Belmonte. The building also took advantage of the wall that anchored the construction of the church and its monastery. Outside, it is possible to observe parts of the wall and follow its path. Inside the church, there are several carved altars, from the Baroque period (17th century) and tiles from the same period.

In the main altar, enriched with altarpiece, dating from the period between 1757 and 1766, is a moving screen reserved for the theme of the Vision of St. Augustine. The work is attributed to João Glama Stroberle, painter of German origin, who was born in Lisbon in 1708. In the same high altar it is also possible to observe a mausoleum that captures the attention of anyone due to its magnificent decoration – the author of the work is unknown.

The Alto Coro of the church consists of a single-row chair and on the side of the Gospel there is a pipe organ. Also noteworthy are the tiles alluding to the life of Santa Rita de Cássia, by Bartolomeu Antunes, located on the side altar of Santa Rita, the image of Santo Ovídeo and the image of Our Lady of Guia, by Manuel Miranda, located  collateral to the altar. Also of great interest is the altar of Senhor dos Passos, located on the right side; the image of the invocation of Jesus Christ is of great dimensions and presents features, deeply, realistic. It is probably the image that stands in this lateral altar that was brought out for the traditional Senhor dos Passos procession.

In front of the church we can find the Palácio S. João Novo, built at the end of the XVIII century, in Baroque style and that many attribute to Nicolau Nasoni.

Although it is closed more than a decade ago, the Palace served as a hospital during the Siège of Porto, in the Liberal Wars, and later as a Museum of Ethnography.

In addition to the similarities with the church of the former Jesuit College of S. Lourenço, the Church of S. João Novo also reveals the influence of the Igreja dos Grilos, due to the composition of the facade and the interior design.

The building is suitable for people with physical limitations and although it is closed on Sundays, it is possible to visit the Church of S. João Novo from Monday to Saturday, free of charge.

This year, the Church of S. João Novo is one of the spaces in the city of Porto that integrates the programming of In Spiritum – the festival proposes the discovery of the historical heritage through music.

Multi-sport offer in the most eclectic of clubs
1 April, 2019 / ,

An eclectic club that represents Porto and Portugal with 115 years of history and much more to honor its past.

When in 1904, José Marques Barbosa and José Meirelles, two young rowers founded a club, they never imagined that past all these years the centenary Sport Club of Porto would become one of the most eclectic national emblems, with sporting facilities on both embankments of the Douro river.

It’s this territorial dispersion and equipment, combined with the wide range of modalities – handball, bodybuilding, dance, adapted sports, motor sport, fencing, fitness, football, gymnastics, dumbbells, horseback riding, field hockey, rugby , paddle tennis, figure skating, tennis, sailing and volleyball – which make Sport a unique case in the world of sport, but also in terms of promoting tourism.

From the Freixo Marina to the Centro de Vela, in Leça da Palmeira, from the Centro de Remo in Gaia to the Equestrian Center in Prelada, there is no lack of choice ​​for those who seek in this metropolitan area much more than the usual tourist itineraries, which complemented by the its wide range of sporting facilities in the City Park, makes our club a ‘host’ of excellence, with unparalleled equipment on such a large scale in all these municipalities where it is distributed: Gaia, Matosinhos and Porto.

All this high level structure implies an unparalleled 115-year sporting history, translated into many national titles in the most diverse modalities and constant presence of some of our most brilliant athletes in European Championships, World Cups, World Championships and Olympic Games.

Among the many names that have passed through Sport, we remember with pride the filmmaker Manoel de Oliveira who long before being an inescapable personality of the world of cinema was also a Sport athlete in many modalities. In addition to being triple pole vault champion and racing driver, together with his brother Casimiro they took part in our first circus company.

Sport has played an unparalleled role in the formation of successive generations of young people who inhabit this metropolitan area or who at some point in their academic life have also passed through Porto.

Exhibition Escher in Alfandega
29 March, 2019 / , , ,

Hey Porto spoke with Frederico Guidiceandrea, onde of the exhibition curators and a major expert on M.C. Escher’s work

– What can people expect from this exhibition in Porto?

The exhibition covers the entire artistic career of MC Escher, starting from the early works that reflect the influence of his teacher, Jesserun de Mesquita, a major exponent of the art nouveau in the Netherlands. An important space is dedicated to the italian period, the nocturnal images of Rome, the southern Italian landscapes and studies of nature.

In the following sections the most famous works are represented: the tessellations, the impossible buildings, ribbons, regular solids, reflecting surfaces and metamorphosis. The exhibition continues with occasional works that MC Escher created on commission such as bookplates, greeting cards, postage stamps and more.

The exhibition closes with a large space devoted to the Eschermania. Here, evidence of the influence of MC Escher on the iconography of the 20th and 21st century. Book covers, psychedelic posters, LP covers, comics, magazines, videoclips and works of contemporary artists who were inspired by MC Escher.

Throughout the exhibition a series of experiential games leads the visitor into the world of MC Escher. They experience the paradoxes of perception encoded by the laws of Gestalt and  physically enter into some of MC Escher’s works.

– How would you define Escher’s art?

The art of MC Escher can be interpreted in layers. At first wonder prevails, then if you look deeper you will discover more and more details: paradoxes of perception, mathematical structures, references to the Italian landscape and to the great artists of the past. Every time I set up an exhibition, even having seen the works hundreds of times, I always discover something new.

– Which are his main references?

The main influence especially in his early work is certainly to be found in the art of his master, Jesserun de Mesquita, who was an important exponent of the Dutch Art Noveau. Later in Italy he came into contact with exponents of Futurism, in particular with the art movement called ‘Areopittura’ who loved to depict scenes and landscapes from above with an unusual use of perspective. In the later works the greatest influence came from the contacts with the world of mathematics, especially the correspondence with important mathematicians such Roger Penrose or Harlod Coxeter were the basis of many of the iconic works.

– Escher is intriguing, disturbing, disconcerting, a true genious. Do you agree?

Yes, his work captures many of the trends in the technological society. Modern scientific theories such as the theory of relativity and quantum physics have profoundly changed the way we see the world. The world is not as it appears, on a very large or very small scale it can be very counter-intuitive and paradoxical. MC Escher, through his tessellations and impossible structures, opens a window that allows us to grasp the complexity of the world.