Porto, Palaces and Boats

Ferreira Caves

The sun is shining brightly as we leave our apartment. Our first stop is for a tour of Ferreira Caves (established in 1751) for a tour & port tasting.

In the 1800s, a widow, Don Antonia ran the winery after her husband passed away. Many of their special ports are named after her.

I learn a lot on the tour, especially the difference between tawny and ruby port. We meet a lovely couple from Kentucky who just returned from doing the El Camino. We sit together during our tasting. Ferriera Caves is very generous with the tastings and I must admit that I am feeling a tad tipsy when we leave.

Lunch at the Mercado

We stop at the local mercato (market) for lunch. We go to a Portuguese pastry place that offers beef pies, shrimp and spinach pastries.

Six Bridges River Cruise

After a quick stop at the apartment, we head to the Six Bridges Boat Tour on the Douro River. It is a gorgeous, warm and sunny spring day. We get on the boat, they start the engine and I promptly fall asleep. John stays awake and enjoys the 50 minute boat tour.

Jardim do Morro Park

I wake up very quickly when we get off the boat as we start climbing a very, very steep cobblestone road to the Jardim do Morro park. The view of the river and Porto is fabulous. 

Bolsa Palace and the Sunny Park

We cross the upper section of the Luis I Bridge (where the streetcars cross the river) and head to the Porto Cathedral, checking out the inside, before walking through narrow streets, steep alleys and steps to the Bolsa Palace.

I love these narrow streets. Saturday must be laundry day for some people because I see sheets hanging out the windows, moving in the breeze.

There is a grassy park in front of the palace. People are lying on the grass, enjoying this beautiful spring day.

We enjoy our tour through the palace. The Arabic ballroom was my personal favourite. At the end of the tour you can order Pastels do Nata (custard tarts) for only 1 euro each. We buy a couple and take them to the park to eat. They were the absolute best ones I have had here…light and flaky crust.

Ingreja de Sao Francisco do Porto

Igreja de Sao Francisco do Porto is next to the palace. The church is a UNESCO World heritage site. It is 11€ to get in, a steep price for what you see. The highlight for me is the catacombs, (or maybe I am just a morbid person for choosing that as my highlight).

Saturday Night in Vila Nova de Gaia

We walk around the Riberia riverfront. It is hopping on a Saturday night. John and I decide to cross the bridge to our area (Vila Nova de Gaia) for supper.

We stop by the apartment, grab a few glasses of port (we bought a bottle last night…I don’t know when we thought we were going to drink it), and head to the riverfront to watch the sunset. It isn’t much of a sunset since the clouds roll in at the last minute.

Of course I have to check out the Portuguese Sardine Store and sit on the sardine throne on the way to supper.

We return to the mercato for supper. For some reason, I am craving grilled sardines but they are not in season so I order a grilled fish with potatoes and salad for supper and John has black linguini with shrimp.