The Guindais Funicular (Funicular dos Guindais) is a unique railway located in Porto, within the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória. Originally opened on June 3, 1891, this funicular had a rocky start, with an accident caused by excessive speed leading to its decommissioning just two years later, on June 5, 1893. After the original line closed, the funicular’s station was repurposed several times, notably serving as an atelier for sculptor Henrique Moreira and later as a meeting hall for local Jehovah’s Witnesses.

A new funicular following the original line was inaugurated on February 19, 2004. The funicular descends the cliff along the Freiras Wall, connecting the Guindais quay to Rua da Batalha, near the Civil Governor’s building. Owned and operated by Porto Metro, the funicular features a single track with a central loop system, spanning 281 meters (922 feet) and descending 61 meters (200 feet). A key feature is the self-leveling platforms in the cars, which keep the floor horizontal regardless of the steep gradient, particularly noticeable in the lower section below the passing loop.

Two cars, each accommodating up to 25 passengers, run the line at a maximum speed of 5 meters per second (16 feet/second). The brief journey lasts about three minutes, and as the funicular emerges from the upper tunnel, passengers are treated to panoramic views of the Dom Luís I Bridge, the scenic river margins, Porto’s Ribeira quay, Cais de Gaia, and the iconic Port wine warehouses along the Douro River. The Guindais Funicular serves as a convenient mode of transport for locals and commuters, linking the riverside with metro services, including connections at São Bento station.

The banks of the River Douro are granite. Spanning the river in two different locations less than a mile apart are the bridges of Luis I, King of Portugal and his royal bride, D. Maria Pia. The bridge of Luis looks remarkably similar to that of Maria. Both bridges have enormous iron webs and arches supporting transit over the river.

The reason they look alike is simple. The D. Maria Pia bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel, famous for his tower in Paris. The Dom Luis bridge was designed by Teophile Seyrig. Seyrig had partnered with Eiffel on the D. Maria Pia bridge and the Eiffel Tower. The span of the Luis Bridge is 564 feet and the height is 146 feet.

A novel feature of the Luis I bridge is its two levels. One passes over the the highest point of the arch and the other hangs beneath the arch. Originally, both levels were meant for road traffic. However, today the top level carries trains of the Metro alongside pedestrian walkways. Walking on the upper level is a thrill not to be missed.

From the upper level there are matchless views of Porto Cathedral and the Tower of the Clergymen dominating the skyline of old Porto.

Why You Should Visit:
Visit the upper level for the thrill, the view and bragging rights. It may not be the only bridge in town but it's the best.

The origins of the settlement along the Ribeira is not really known. A riverside settlement developed near the confluence of the Vila River and the Douro River. Some Roman mosaics from the fourth century have been found in the area. The Ribeira grew along with Porto in the 13th century. Especially by the river and Penaventosa hill.

Two settlements arose. One on the escarpment of Penaventosa by Porto Cathedral. The other appeared below in Ribiera on the banks of the Douro River. Until the last decade of the 14th century the settlements were connected by a web of narrow, constricting streets difficult to move around in. A new street was needed to pierce the labyrinth.

On the initiative of John I a new street was opened. In fact, it was called "New Street" (Rua Nova). It was a perfect contrast to the tangled web of passageways of Porto. It was straight, and wide for its time. It became a prestigious address for the bourgeoisie, clergy and business.

The Ribeira district lures the visitor on. It is a captivating place of medieval streets and alleys ending in a busy waterfront square, the Ribeira Square. The remains of the 14th century wall run next to the Ribeira Wharf. Beyond this point are the steep twisted ways of the Barredo.

In the evenings clubs on the Ribeira Wharf promise a stimulating nightlife to romantic strollers. In days gone by the district alongside the Douro River was a center of lively commerce and business.

The Ribeira Square has many shops and cafes. At the northern part of the square is a huge fountain. The Ribeira Wharf starts on the west side of the Luis I Bridge and it follows the riverside to Ribeira Square.

There is an upper walkway where there are more shops and cafes. The walkway is what is left of the old city walls, once patrolled by medieval soldiers on watch. Sit down, have a drink and watch the river with them. Time glides by like the river.

Prince Henry's House, also known as the Old Customshouse, is a historical landmark in Porto. Originally constructed in the 14th century, this building served as a customs house and mint, with most of its current form resulting from a significant 17th-century renovation. The name House of the Prince stems from a local tradition that claims it was the birthplace of Prince Henry the Navigator in 1394, making it a site of notable historical interest in Porto’s UNESCO-designated World Heritage Center.

The original customshouse was built in 1325 by royal decree on the remnants of a Roman villa and was operational by 1327. In 1354, during King D. Afonso IV's reign, the construction of a new medieval customshouse began as part of a conflict between the king and the Bishop of Porto over the taxation of goods on the Douro River. Located near the riverbank, this structure not only minted coins but also functioned as a warehouse and residential space for employees.

The architectural layout features four interconnected rectangular spaces with different ceiling tiles. The facade has four stories of canopy windows, a large arched doorway with the royal coat of arms, and a 1677 inscription. Inside, a framed patio with archways connects to the upper floors and eastern sections. The main interior space is divided into three naves by high arcades, with two stories accessible via a central staircase. The rear facade's high windows illuminate the pavement and patio, linking the eastern and northern buildings. Access to Rua Infante D. Henrique is via a ramp and tunnel leading to an archway with the royal coat of arms, near a stone bearing the Avis family shield.

Over the years, the building has been remodeled many times to fit the needs of new inhabitants, which in turn makes it an interesting mixture of architectural styles. More recently, it has been the focus of archaeological research which has revealed Roman foundations along with the incredible mosaics currently displayed at the museum, which features interactive displays in both Portuguese and English.

Why You Should Visit:
Compact but informative museum; gives a good insight into the building itself, which was used as a Customs House and coin mint, and also the growth and development of the city of Porto from Roman times onwards. A lot of the exhibits seem very new, with some audiovisual and interactive displays. The entry fee is very reasonable!

The Statue of Prince Henry the Navigator in Porto stands as a tribute to one of the country's most renowned maritime pioneers. Unveiled in 1894 and crafted by sculptor Tomás Costa, this monument honors the 14th-century prince who played a pivotal role in establishing Portugal as a global economic powerhouse through his numerous maritime discoveries.

Prince Henry, born in 1394 as the fifth son of King John I, the founder of the Dynasty of Avis, was a visionary master seaman. His expeditions secured vital trade routes and opened the doors to the vast riches of Africa, notably gold from the Ivory Coast. His achievements earned him prestigious titles, including the leadership of the Order of Christ.

Located near the Ribeira section of Porto, the statue is prominently positioned on a tall pedestal, with Prince Henry depicted turning towards the ocean, his posture commanding and directive, as if issuing orders to his crew. The pedestal is adorned with intricate relief sculptures that narrate significant moments from Prince Henry's life, encapsulating his legacy as a trailblazer of Portugal’s maritime dominance in the Age of Discovery.

In 1244 the bishop of Porto didn't like the Franciscans. Other religious orders and clergy didn't mind pushing them around. What was needed was a papal bull and they got one from Pope Innocent V. He chided the bishop and returned to the Franciscans the land the bishop had taken from them. The monks then built a convent and church.

The Franciscans had their foot in the door and in 1383, with the patronage of King Ferdinand I, they built a bigger church. The church was complete in 1425. It was done in the plain Gothic style favored by mendicant orders of the time. To this day the Franciscan church is the best example the Gothic style in Porto.

In the 15th and 16th centuries socially prominent families made the Church of Saint Francis theirs. The Chapel of John the Baptist, for example, was built in the 1530s for the Carneiro family in the Manueline style. In the 18th century the interior surfaces were covered with gilt work in a Baroque style, including the apses and nave.

During the siege of Porto in 1832 the cloisters were destroyed. The Commercial Association built the Stock Exchange Palace in its place.

Why You Should Visit:
If you like seeing countless hours of opulent, very ornate wood carving covered in gold leaf, then this is the place for you.

Tip:
Don't miss the little museum and the catacombs that are included in the ticket price.

The Museum of Wine in Porto offers a deep dive into the history of Port wine and its integral role in the city’s development. Originally inaugurated in 2004 in the Cais Novo Warehouse, the museum moved to its current location in 2019. This new site, housed in a rehabilitated six-story building, brings a fresh approach to exploring the history of Port wine, focusing not just on the wine itself, but on the broader control and circulation of food products in Porto.

The museum’s collection spans models of Rabelo boats used to transport wine on the Douro River, metrology devices, and archival documents, paintings, sculptures, and furniture. These pieces, gathered from various municipal sources like the Soares dos Reis Museum and Porto’s Public Library, tell the story of how Port wine production led to the establishment of trade regulations that guaranteed the quality of this renowned product.

Visitors will find the first floor dedicated to the history of wine transportation by boat, with never-before-seen diagrams and models from the 1960s. Higher floors feature metrology instruments, some dating back to the reign of King João V, which were used to measure and regulate wine. The museum will also include a wine bar, offering tastings that complement the historical narratives displayed.

Currently closed for renovations since January 2024, the museum also features a multimedia exhibition titled The City Government and Wine, which delves into the governance of wine in Porto. It traces centuries of documentation and showcases how municipal officials managed the supply, quality, and pricing of wine. This aspect emphasizes the crucial role that local governance played in ensuring the reliability of Port wine-a product that proudly bears the city’s name on every label.

World of Discoveries in Porto offers a captivating journey through the history of Portuguese exploration, blending the allure of a theme park with the depth of a museum. Located in the Miragaia neighborhood, this interactive exhibition immerses visitors in the Age of Discoveries, showcasing the grand voyages and conquests of Portuguese navigators from the 13th to the 19th century.

Full-scale replicas, 3-dimensional terrestrial globes, and interactive touchscreens transport visitors to key moments in history, offering insights into the lives of famous explorers such as Dom Henrique, Gil Eanes, Bartolomeu Dias, Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral, and Fernão de Magalhães.

The museum’s carefully designed scenarios depict the diverse regions reached by Portuguese explorers, including Africa, India, China, Timor, Japan, Macau, and Brazil. The journey begins in a room dedicated to the evolution of Portuguese ships, featuring scale models of iconic vessels, from rowboats to caravels, illustrating their adaptation for longer and more perilous voyages. Interactive screens provide detailed glimpses into the lives of sailors and the historical context of the discoveries.

Further along, visitors can explore a recreated cargo area of a large ship, showcasing the daily life of crew members, the storage of merchandise, and the living conditions aboard. The tour concludes in a meticulously reconstructed old naval shipyard, offering a behind-the-scenes look at shipbuilding and repair processes.

Designed with inclusivity in mind, World of Discoveries caters to visitors of all ages and abilities, with content available in six languages (Portuguese, Spanish, English, French, German, and Italian) and adaptations for individuals with special sensory and cognitive needs. This self-guided adventure, typically lasting about an hour, makes World of Discoveries an ideal destination for families exploring Porto, merging education with entertainment in a uniquely immersive setting.

The Douro River, the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge, is a vital and picturesque waterway that spans Spain and Portugal. It originates near Duruelo de la Sierra in Spain’s Soria Province and flows westward through the Meseta Central of Castile and León, eventually reaching northern Portugal and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean at Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Along its journey, the Douro is joined by several tributaries, including the significant right-bank Esla River, which carries more water than the Douro at their confluence.

In Portugal, the Douro Valley is celebrated for its stunning landscapes and rich winemaking traditions. The valley, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is renowned for its vineyards that produce port wine, a mildly fortified wine historically transported downriver in traditional boats called rabelos to Vila Nova de Gaia for storage. Today, the transport has modernized with the use of tanker trucks. The scenic Douro railway line runs parallel to the river, offering a breathtaking route that draws tourists eager to explore the region's natural beauty and heritage.

Historically, the Douro was personified as the god Durius during Roman times and played a significant role in the area's development. In the 8th century, the region experienced deliberate depopulation under Alfonso I of Asturias for defensive reasons, an event known as "Repoblación." The river's importance continued to evolve, with the construction of dams and locks in the 1960s and 1970s enhancing river traffic and enabling better navigation.

Additionally, the Douro's basin includes other significant sites such as the Côa Valley, where a small tributary of the river hosts Paleolithic rock art, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, emphasizing the area’s rich archaeological patrimony. The river also flows through Spain’s Ribera del Duero DOP, a prominent wine-producing area in Castile and León.