Seven places from our channel, with a short explanation of each and the way from the restaurant.
River and quaysRibeira and Cais da Ribeira
The Ribeira is the riverfront of Porto's historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It is where the Douro and the city meet: colourful houses, quays and terraces. For Porto 2001, European Capital of Culture, the area was redeveloped between the Dom Luís I bridge and the Cais da Estiva.
See the walking route from Capa na Baixa →
House of historyCasa do Infante
At Rua da Alfândega 10, the Casa do Infante was the Alfândega Velha, Porto's royal customs house. Tradition says Prince Henry the Navigator was born here in 1394, but the exact place of his birth is not proven. Today it is a municipal space, with the Historical Archive and exhibitions on the history of the city.
See the walking route from Capa na Baixa →
Medieval streetsRua da Bainharia and Rua dos Mercadores
Rua da Bainharia is one of the oldest streets in Porto, first mentioned in documents in 1296. The name comes from the bainheiros, the craftsmen who made sword scabbards. Right next to it, Rua dos Mercadores was for centuries one of the trading centres of the city.
See the walking route from Capa na Baixa →
ChurchChurch of São Lourenço (Grilos)
The Church of São Lourenço, which the people of Porto call the Igreja dos Grilos, was built by the Jesuits in the 16th century. Legend says the name comes from the crickets (grilos) that could be heard singing there. The former college now houses the Museum of Sacred Art and Archaeology.
See the walking route from Capa na Baixa →
CathedralPorto Cathedral (Sé)
Work on the Sé began in the 12th century, on the initiative of Bishop D. Hugo, and it still looks Romanesque: the two towers, the rose window and the church with three naves. The Gothic cloister dates from the 14th century and the side loggia, by Nicolau Nasoni, from the 18th.
See the walking route from Capa na Baixa →
ArchitectureCasa da Música
Designed by Rem Koolhaas and OMA after an international competition in 1999, the Casa da Música opened in April 2005. It stands near the Rotunda da Boavista. It is outside the Baixa.
See how to get there from Capa na Baixa →
Art and gardensSerralves Foundation
The Serralves Foundation was created in 1989. It brings together the Casa de Serralves, an Art Deco landmark, the Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira and opened in 1999, and a park of about 18 hectares. It is outside the Baixa.
See how to get there from Capa na Baixa →