A photo excursion in Portugal’s nr 2 city and travel destination
Hi again and Bom Dia! Today I want to take you on a photogenic excursion in Porto and some incredible locations around the countries second biggest city, Porto. We will visit some village’s, beaches and of course we will see landscapes that are a must see when visiting the North of Portugal.
Porto
Most people cheer for Lissabon when talking about a city trip to portugal. But I would definitely choose Porto over Lissabon. Hack, I even moved from Indonesia to Porto! Not only is the city of Porto vibrant, full of surfing, small streets, historical buildings and a foodlover paradise, but it’s also the capital of portwine. The best wines in the world have found their origin in the valleys of the Douro River and are amongst worlds best wines, not just by my taste, but by wine critics from all over the world.
A great colorful view of wines during the autumn season in the Douro
Today I don’t want to have your mouths running with water just yet tho. No, I'll be focussing on my trip in, and around Porto. Because Porto is in the north of Portugal the location is very unique. It's surrounded by mountains, the Atlantic Ocean and is close to Spain as well ( just little over 1 hr drive up north and you're already crossing borders - No problem for travelers within the EU), it has so much to offer.
When I moved to porto for 2 months, I was planning on staying here for 5/6 months, after giving birth to our son. But unfortunately, systems don’t always agree with my lifestyle so I have to move back to The Netherlands soon. Before I am leaving Porto, one of my favorite city’s of Europe, I’ll leave you with my top list of places to visit and what to shoot with your camera.
Here is my list of places you must visit whilst you are in porto:
Cemetery Colosseum;
Visit a rather spooky location, at a cemetery, in the middle of porto. You will find this place a bit creepy perhaps, but I can assure you, it's beautifully decorated, simple and has amazing light from the top glass like roof, making it a light place to be. The wagons they use and trolleys are still very old and authentic making this place one where you can feel like stepping back in time.
Porto Cementery
Inside the colosseum shaped building. Look at the old metals used and the structure of the building. The trolleys are super old but still functional and give this place a authentic look
The Gardens:
Jardim dos Sentimentos,Torreão do Jardim do Palácio, House of Rose Garden, Jardim do Roseiral, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
These gardens are quite a catch! Strolling through the many small alleys and streets in porto, these gardens are located around the Super Bock Arena, and have, not only incredible views over porto, vila nova de gaia and the douro river, they also host a great variety of animals, birds, and tropical flowers and plants. You for a minute forget that you are actually walking in europe.
A very well located garden with curious pattern shapes overlooking the douro river and vila nova de Gaia
At some point you can’t overlook the viewpoint; Miradouro da Ponte da Arrábida It’s location is at the perfect spot to see the beautiful Art Deco Bridge, connecting Vila Nova de Gaia and Porto on the west side, near the ocean. The bridge, Ponte da Arrábida, was built in 1955-1963 and back then the bridge had the largest reinforced concrete arch.
A very Lush green garden with the best view on Ponte da Arrábida and the Atlantic ocean
Intersection
On a late autumn night, at the end of October, I went to spot this twisting curly intersection of roads, coming from Vila Nova de Gaia and looking towards the city of Porto. What I love about this image is the movement you have in Porto. It feels super cozy when you are walking in the city center, and within its ring, the streets are not wide and big, making it a relaxed city, where traffic isn’t that disturbing. The height difference in porto is quite big and that also makes traffic slow down a lot.
Moving cars on a highway in porto, creating the perfect lighttrail effect
A little bit outside from the city, you can see some highways. This one is going towards the stadium of the FC porto football club. The tail lights and headlights create a motion of energy, vividness and of transportation.
Soft lights during the bluehour. Shot from vila nova de gaia. FC porto stadium is also to be seen in the background
Capela do Senhor da Pedra
A panorama from the Capela do Senhor da Pedra with a nice sunburst effect
A little south from porto, crossing part of the Vila Nova de Gaia, you will find a breathtaking beach with rocks and on the big rock laying in the ocean, arises a landmark called the Capela do Senhor da Pedra. This little chapel has been built upon rocks and stood the test of time with many hundred of years of ocean waves breaking on the rocks to not hitting the beautiful hexagonal structure.
An impressive sunset and reflections from a small creek nearby the beach.
The beaches here are wide, clean and during autumn, warm enough to go strolling around them and catch that atlantic breeze.
Vila Nova De Gaia: Portwine Cellars
Welcome to my world! Ohw what gold you've struck when entering one of the man lagars of the fine wine brands of for example Fonseca, Taylors, Churchills or Grahams.
Grahams has an incredible wine cellar for the public to visit. With wines over 150 years old!
The Lodge that we’ve visited was the one of Grahams. Back in 2016 I already had great memories visiting this place and I wanted to come back. To have another look at some of the treasures it holds and taste some delicious wines.
Ponte Luís I
A picture perfect view of Porto, Ponte Luís I and the Douro river during an incredible sunset
Much has been written about this famous landmark in porto, so i’ll keep it short on this one.
The bridge naturally catches the eye whenever you visit porto. The eyecatcher is so famous that its the best and most important tourist attraction of the city. I find it most beautiful when shooting it during the sunset, from the bridge more land inwards, called the Ponte Infante Dom Henrique.
From this point you can catch a different view of the douro river, the sunset and the Ponte Luís I.
Misty evening glows. This is the Maria Pia-bridge. Made completely out of steel.
From the Ponte Infante Dom Henrique you can also catch a railroad bridge, called the Maria Pia-bridge. The design is almost the same and during some foggy evenings, one can catch crazy moody pictures here.
Viseu
We decided to visit this town, after having been traveling on a very rainy day to Coimbra. The rain was so strong that taking pictures wasn't worth our while and we decided to move on to find a dry town. This time we went to Viseu. A town that has beautiful old historical buildings, a small chapel with eye-catching stairs and as the autumn set in, I found myself making some leave-pictures too.
The main square in the old towns center of Viseu
The old town also has got a beautiful museum called museu nacional grao vasco.
This is situated at the hearth of the center on top of the hill and overlooking the surroundings of the old city into the new. Also, if you visit the old Viseu Cathedral, you can have a look at the inside square, full of old details and in the church, you will find some hidden chambers that have a dark atmosphere.
hidden rooms inside the church. Be mindful and humble
Lamego
On our way to the Douro, we made some incredible tastings along the way and had a very good lunch at the famous Quinta Nova Nossa Senhora do Carmo. This place breathes romance. The views over the river Douro are spectacular and the quietness is addictive.
But after our lunch, it was time to explore a sunset at Lamego. A town famous for its never ending stairs from down at the bottom of the city center up to the cathedral. It's a famous style of stairs that you can find all over portugal. These stairs have a whopping 686 to be climbed, if you want to see the church at the end of the climb.
Autumn colors and the Lamego stairs up to the cathedral
The Cathedral on the top of the stairs. More than 650 stairs to climb.
People stroll down the square in front of the stairs. Making it a place to come together during the weekends.
Viana do Castelo
The mystical and spiritual Santuário de Santa Luzia
Now this was on my bucket list of places to discover when I was living in Porto.
A city at the foot of a mountain range Monte de Santa Luzia that almost touches the ocean.
What a picture perfect place! discover this gem on top of the mountain, overlooking Viana do Castelo
Most people climb the stairs to the highlight of this place, or take the cable car Elevador de Santa Luzia, but I came from the north and I took a lovely road through mystical forests and drove by car. Arriving at the Santuário de Santa Luzia, I was a bit overwhelmed by the view, the mood and the quality of the buildings. Low hanging clouds were sweeping in from the valley and made it sometimes difficult to see the cathedral, but it was a real picture perfect place at that moment.
This has been well worth the trip: pools creating reflections, mystical clouds and the church that shines
Here you can see some of those images from that morning.
Amarante
A place I was before but without my camera, is amarante. Just a quick 45 min drive from Porto, you will find the river Tamega, meandering trhought the mountains of porto and creating breathtaking views next to the river banks, and on top of the hills.
One of my best shots from the last trip to Amarante. An impeccable reflection from the old town
The old town of Amarante is a very cozy and tiny place, but its river is wide and there is a lot to see and do around the river. During the summer you can easily take a small wooden boat and peddle around the river banks, constantly seeing the beautiful bridge with historical arches and reflection on the water. The water really runs smoothly here so picture perfect reflections are easy to catch
Thanks again for reading and sign up to get the first new visions from your favorite photographer, Rudolfo Dalamicio