Above the Ribeira, on granite hills, spreads Porto's historic and 19th-century centre, between the Sé, the Clérigos Tower and Avenida dos Aliados. Many of the city's most famous sights are here, all within walking distance. It is part of the Porto guide.
Clérigos Tower
The city's symbol, the Clérigos Tower, rises 75 metres above the centre. It was designed by Tuscan architect Nicolau Nasoni and built between 1754 and 1763 together with the elliptical baroque Clérigos church. For centuries it was Portugal's tallest building and a landmark for sailors. Climbing its 240 steps brings you to the viewpoint with the widest view over Porto, the river and Gaia. The visit includes the church and a small museum; Nasoni, who died poor in Porto in 1773, is buried in the crypt.
Livraria Lello
A short walk from the tower, Livraria Lello, opened in 1906, is considered one of the world's most beautiful bookshops: a neo-Gothic façade, carved wood interiors, a stained-glass ceiling and a red double staircase that seems to float. The legend that J. K. Rowling, who lived in Porto in the 1990s, found inspiration here has multiplied the queues: entry is now by timed ticket, deductible from a book purchase. Book online and arrive at opening time.
São Bento Station
São Bento station, opened in 1916 on the site of a Benedictine convent, is one of Europe's most beautiful stations. Its hall is lined with about twenty thousand azulejos painted by Jorge Colaço, depicting episodes of Portuguese history, such as the battle of Valdevez and the conquest of Ceuta, and scenes of rural life in the north. Free entry; regional trains to Guimarães, Braga and the Douro valley leave from here.
The Sé and Morro da Sé
On the city's oldest hill, Pena Ventosa, stands the Sé do Porto, the 12th-century Romanesque fortress-cathedral, transformed over the centuries with a Gothic cloister lined with baroque azulejos, a gilded sacristy and a loggia by Nasoni. From the square, with its pillory column, there is a fine view over the Ribeira rooftops and the bridge. Nearby are the Bishop's Palace and the Guerra Junqueiro House-Museum. The streets around the Sé, such as Rua de Dom Hugo and Calçada de Vandoma, are among Porto's oldest.
Avenida dos Aliados
Avenida dos Aliados is the grand 19th- and 20th-century boulevard, topped by the city hall with its tower and lined with granite bank and hotel buildings. It is the setting for big celebrations and New Year. At the bottom is Praça da Liberdade with the equestrian statue of Pedro IV. A Brasileira café and the McDonald's Imperial, in an old Art Deco café with stained glass and chandeliers, are two curiosities.
Azulejo churches
- Capela das Almas, on Rua de Santa Catarina, entirely covered in 20th-century blue-and-white azulejos with scenes from the lives of saints.
- The twin Carmo and Carmelitas churches, separated by Porto's narrowest house, about a metre wide, built so the two religious communities shared no walls. The side of the Carmo church has a large azulejo panel.
- Santo Ildefonso Church, on Praça da Batalha, with a façade of eleven thousand tiles.
Santa Catarina, Majestic and Bolhão
Rua de Santa Catarina is the pedestrian shopping street. At number 112 is Café Majestic, from 1921, an Art Nouveau café with mirrors, carved wood and stucco, once frequented by artists and intellectuals. Nearby, the Mercado do Bolhão, the two-storey 19th-century market, restored and reopened in 2022, with stalls of fish, fruit, flowers, cheese and small restaurants.
Tips
- Book the Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello to avoid queues; the tower is lovely in the evening too.
- Many churches charge a small entry fee and close at lunchtime.
- Walk down from the Sé to the Ribeira by the stairways and come back up by the Guindais funicular or metro.
See also the Ribeira and bridges and what to see in Porto.