After our visit to Grijó yesterday, we expect a stage full of beautiful landscapes that will reward the pilgrim for the effort made during the previous stages. The Camino de Santiago gives us a relaxing day during which we enter Oporto (Porto), the second largest city in Portugal.
Let’s go on the Camino Portugues!
Today’s stage is especially beautiful. During the route, we will pass through two of the most beautiful environments since we left Lisbon. One is a section of the Roman road surrounded by a forest and the other is the bridge of King Don Luís I, on the River Duero, at the entrance of Porto.
Another marvel of this stage is that it brings us back to the sea. For those who started the Camino Portugues in Lisbon, at the mouth of the River Tejo, returning to the ocean, after several weeks of walking through the interior, will certainly be a comforting experience.
The day ends in Porto, the city of Bridges. A city full of secrets to discover and declared a World Heritage Site.
If you are thinking about walking the Camino de Santiago from Coímbra tell us what your plans are for the Camino de Santiago and we will contact you to advise you on everything you need.
Itinerary stage Grijó – Porto
The 16th stage of the Camino de Santiago on its journey through the interior of Portugal is one of the shortest stages and also one of the most beautiful since we left Lisbon. Just 15 kilometres and some pronounced ascents and descents separate the pilgrim from the beautiful city of Porto.
Grijó (Km. 0). Beginning of stage
Practical tips for this section: Given that the street has no pedestrian-enabled space, we recommend crossing the cemetery to leave the town. Buen Camino!
We start the morning on Rua Cardoso Pinto, where the Cross of the Padrão Velho is located, next to the monastery wall. We go through the cemetery and walk out the door of the top of it. We turn left, pass by a large textile factory and arrive at a small roundabout, next to the one where a church is located.
The arrows for the Camino de Santiago indicate that we must turn right, Rua da Guarda, parallel to the endless wall of the monastery. 600 metres after passing a petrol station, we turn right down a cobblestone street.
After the steep descent and the subsequent ascent, take a right, by Rua das Alminhas. We go beyond a football field and continue along Rua das Silvinhas, leaving a few industrial buildings on the right. We cross the district of Aspareta and a kilometre later, we arrived at the centre of Perosinho.
Perosinho (Km. 5)
Practical tips for this section: Enjoy this stretch, on most of it you will walk on the Roman road and before your eyes, the immense Atlantic Ocean reappears. Buen Camino!
Through cobbled streets, we pass by a steel sculpture with the name of the village and a Jacobean scallop. We cross a small road, which has a traffic light and continue straight on uphill, leaving behind us the church and the cemetery.
Following the climb on Rua Bela Vista, we arrive on the outskirts of town and the cobblestone paving is transformed into a Roman road, flanked by stone walls and surrounded by a beautiful forest. After this beautiful stretch, the roadway is transformed into a patch of land that takes us into a urbanization, along Rua do Alto da Serra.
On a curve appears a small dirt path, which we take to return to enter another pleasant stretch that runs through the interior of the forest, full of ferns. 700 metres later, we return to the asphalt to begin the descent.
However, before that, we must enjoy the beautiful view of the coastline of Vila Nova de Gaia, with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop.
After starting the descent, at the next crossroads, we turn right on a small road that leads to the Quinta do Mirante and continue along Rua Prazeres to enter the urban area. We cross a bridge over the highway and continue straight through the district of Rechousa.
Rechousa (Km. 5)
Practical tips for this section: We recommend you take the route to Oporto on foot, but if you want to catch the Metro at this point you should know that you must get off at the Jardim do Morro station. It would be inexcusable not to cross the Luís I Bridge and miss its wonderful views. Buen Camino!
Going straight ahead, we leave the locality by Rua del Alto das Torres and continue along the old National Road, the EN-1. We pass under the highway and start a hard climb by Rua da Fonte dos Arrependidos. We cross the district of Laborim and we reach a roundabout, where we find the metro station of Santo Ovídio, belonging to the Yellow Line of Porto (line D). We are located in Vila Nova de Gaia (km. 11.8).
We continue along Avenida da República, along which the Metro advances, for 2.6 kilometres. We arrive at the bridge of Don Luís I, where we can enjoy a privileged view. We cross the bridge through an area exclusively reserved for pedestrians.
A 100 metres later, we take a road on the left-hand side, passing by the medieval wall and the statue of Vímara Peres, on horseback. Ascending again, we arrive at Terreiro da Sé, the square that stands in front of Oporto Cathedral.
Oporto (Km. 15,1). End of stage
Practical tips for this section: In the big cities we always recommend an overnight stay of two nights, because you have time to visit the location. Oporto is not an exception, and in the city of the bridges you will find many places of interest to visit. See you tomorrow!
In front of the Cathedral of Porto, we conclude the stage today. From this point, we will have to add the distance to our accommodation, where we can move on foot or by Metro.
In the city you can visit many emblematic bridges, in addition to the one you just crossed, hence it is known as the city of Bridges. Some of them are the bridges of Maria Pia, do Infante, do Freixo, of São João and Arrábida.
In the city, you can also visit various religious temples such as the Cathedral of the Se, the Church and the Torre dos Clerigos, São Lorenço dos Grillo and São Francisco. As well as numerous exhibits of civil architecture, such as the Palacio da Bolsa, the Lello and Irmão bookshop, the Forte Se São Francisco Xavier do Queijo, the São Bento train station, Plaza da Liberte, the Casa do Infante or the Casa da Musica.
Oporto also has a large list of museums, such as the Museo Nacional Soares dos Reis, Museo Nacional da Impresa, Museo Militar do Porto, vino do Porto, Carro Eléctrico, Papel Moeda, Arte Sacra, Misericórdia, Indústria, Gabinete de Numismática, Museo Marta Ortigão Sampaio, Casa Museo Fernando de Castro, Fundación Serralves, Museo de História Natural and Museo dos Transporte e comunicações.
Comments stage Grijó – Porto
Few precautions have to be taken during this stage, it is quite simple. The only recommendation we make is that you try the gastronomy of the region, so we suggest some typical dishes.
Precautions stage Grijó – Porto
Today’s stage does not imply any added difficulty, either for cyclists or for people with reduced mobility. Although today’s route has a number of pronounced ups and downs, these can be overcome without further difficulty.
Gastronomy stage Grijó – Porto
In the city of Porto, you will be able to enjoy excellent and ample gastronomy. Below we suggest some traditional dishes.
- Linguiça (Marinated Pork Shoulder)
- Tripe, Porto style
- Octopus
- Cod, although famous throughout the country, is worth trying the northern preparation style.
- Francesinha, a sandwich made with different meats, cheese and molho sauce.
- Wine from Porto, which has its own denomination of origin.
Services stage Grijó – Porto
Meet the main health care services, cafes, ATMs, restaurants and are in this stage of the Portuguese Way of St. James.
Map stage Grijó – Porto
Consult the map with the route, points and towns along the stage.
Profile stage Grijó – Porto
Consult the profile of the stage: altitude and degree of difficulty of each section.
What to do stage Grijó – Porto
Here are some details about the many places you can visit in the emblematic city of Porto.
Porto
Oporto, or in its Portuguese denomination Porto, is the second most important city in the country, with almost 250,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the same municipality and district. The city has an extensive historical heritage and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The city is famous for the great variety of bridges it presents, a fact that explains that it is known as the city of Bridges. These include the Luís I Bridge, Maria Pia, do Infante, do Freixo, São João and Arrábida.
In the city, you can visit various religious temples such as the Cathedral of the Se, the Church and the Torre dos Clerigos, São Lorenço dos Grillo and São Francisco. As well as numerous exhibits of civil architecture, such as the Palacio da Bolsa, the Lello and Irmão bookshop, the Forte Se São Francisco Xavier do Queijo, the São Bento train station, Plaza da Liberte, the Casa do Infante or the Casa da Musica.
Oporto also has a large list of museums, such as the Museo Nacional Soares dos Reis, Museo Nacional da Impresa, Museo Militar do Porto, vino do Porto, Carro Eléctrico, Papel Moeda, Arte Sacra, Misericórdia, Indústria, Gabinete de Numismática, Museo Marta Ortigão Sampaio, Casa Museo Fernando de Castro, Fundación Serralves, Museo de História Natural and Museo dos Transporte e comunicações.
Puente Luis I
The Luís I Bridge crosses the River Douro to join Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Its construction was carried out in 1886 and its structure is formed by two floors.
The upper floor is 390 metres long and the Porto Metro runs along it, but also has pedestrian-enabled walkways. The lower floor has a length of 174 metres, along it, all other vehicles use it (cars, buses, etc.) and also has exclusive footbridges for pedestrians.
From the bridge you can enjoy magnificent views. On one side, from Ribera de Vila Nova de Gaia, with its wine cellars, and on the other side of the river, the façades and roofs of the historic centre of Porto and its cathedral.
Estatua Vímara Peres
The statue of Vímara Peres leaves the Pilgrim’s Way, after crossing the emblematic Luís I Bridge and before reaching the Plaza Terreiro da Sé. It is an equestrian sculpture of a Galician leader who in the 9th century reconquered the city. A feat for which he was appointed, by Alfonso III of Asturias, first Earl of the Portucalense County.
Terreiro da Sé
The Sé de Porto Cathedral is one of the oldest cathedrals in Portugal and the most important religious monument in the city. Its construction lasted 600 years. The works began in the middle of the 12th century, in a Romanesque style, but the long period of construction and the successive renovations endowed the temple with Gothic and Baroque features.
From the outside of the cathedral stands out its enormous Romanesque façade. Here, you can see a large twin tower battlement, which confer an aspect of strength. Another element that draws our attention is the rosette that crowns the portico of the temple and that has acquired great notoriety before the almost absent ornamentation.
The interior structure is divided by large columns and half-point arches. Inside it has a wide iconography from the 14th to the 18th centuries, among them, the image of Our Lady of Vendoma, considered to be the patron of the city.
The central nave lacks ornamentation. Attached to it are several rooms: The Cloister, the Casa de Cabildo, Sala Capitular and Sala Notarial.
The cloister stands out for its galleries decorated with tile mosaics, in which religious scenes are depicted. In the Cabildo House, you can see various sculptures and religious objects, stored in the Cathedral Museum. The other two rooms are decorated with various sculptures, paintings and mosaics, as well as old utensils.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. From April to October (from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 19:00). From November to March (from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 18:00).
Entrance: Cathedral (free). Cathedral Museum (€3).
Puente María Pía
The Maria Pia Bridge in Porto crosses the River Douro. Its construction was carried out during the years 1876 and 1877. It is considered the first arch bridge with railway access that joined the two banks of the Duero. In 1991, the parallel Bridge of São João was built and the Maria Pia Bridge fell into disuse.
Puente do Infante
The Ponte do Infante de Porto is also known as Don Infante Enrique Bridge. Its construction was carried out in 2003 to communicate the city with Vila Nova de Gaia. Its structure is completely concrete and has superior panelling.
Puente do Freixo
The Puente do Freixo was built in 1980, to communicate Porto with Vila Nova de Gaia. Its construction was carried out to reduce the traffic jams on the Arrábida and of Luís I Bridges. The bridge is made up of 8 spans and 8 road lanes.
Puente de São João
The São João de Porto Bridge was built in 1991 and has a modern and innovative structure, formed by a single piece of reinforced concrete that simulates open arches, separated by three vertical pillars. Since its construction, high-speed trains use this bridge.
Puente de Arrábida
Like the rest of the bridges in the city of Porto, the Puente da Arrábida connects the city with Vila Nova de Gaia. Its construction was carried out between 1957 and 1963. At that time it was considered the largest concrete arch bridge in the world. In 2013 it was declared a national monument.
Plaza da Liberdade
Liberdade is the most famous square in the city of Porto, as it functions as a connecting point between the Old Town and the modern one. In its centre, the huge statue of King Pedro IV, built in 1862, occupies a surface of ten metres.
Palacio da Bolsa
The Palacio da Bolsa is located in the city of Porto, on the ruins of a former Convent of the Franciscan Order. Its construction began in 1842, but it was not until 1891 that it was inaugurated. The building is catalogued as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The palace is of a neoclassical style. Inside, a central courtyard stands out known as the courtyard of the nations, covered with a glass vault. On the second floor, there are several spaces, such as the Arab Room, inspired by the Alhambra, the Hall of the General Assemblies and the Golden Room, covered with gold laminates.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. From April to October (from 9:00 to 18:30). From November to March (from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30).
Admission: General (€7.50), student card and older than 65 years (€4).
Información práctica:
Horario: Abre todos los días. De abril a octubre (de 9:00 a 18:30). De noviembre a marzo (de 9:00 a 12:30 y de 14:00 a 17:30).
Entrada: General (7,5€), Carnet de estudiante y mayores de 65 años (4€).
Museo Nacional Soares dos Reis
The National Museum Soares dos Reis in Oporto is located in the building known as Palacio das Carrancas, from the 18th century. It is considered one of the largest museums for its content. The museum comprises collections of sculptural pieces, decorative arts, paintings, gold jewellery, etc., ranging from the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century.
The collections are separated in different areas, depending on the age of the exhibits. The museum also has temporary exhibitions.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. Open Tuesday (from 14:00 to 18:00) and from Wednesday to Sunday (from 10:00 to 18:00).
Entrance: General (€5). Under 12 years, unemployed and every first Sunday of the month (free).
Museo Nacional da Impresa
The National Print Museum of Oporto was inaugurated in the year 1977 and shows a large collection of manual printing machines. The exhibition is divided into three areas: pre-printing, printing and finishing.
In its facilities, it has a room in honour of the first Portuguese printer, Rodrigo Álvarez, who at the end of the 15th century printed two books in the city. The museum also has temporary exhibitions related to the press and graphic arts. Among the temporary exhibitions, the one dedicated to cartoons stands out. Each year the Porto Cartoon World Festival, considered the third largest festival in the world of caricatures, is organized in this space.
Practical information:
Opening hours: Open daily (from 15:00 to 20:00).
Admission: General (€2), pensioners and students (€1).
Museo Militar do Porto
The Oporto Military Museum is a Portuguese Navy building dedicated to preserving and disseminating military history since 1980. The museum is divided into two halls.
In the lower room you can visit a large collection of uniforms and weapons from the 19th century and all kinds of military machinery, from armoured cars to cannons and combat carriages. On the first floor is a room that houses models and miniatures of lead soldiers from various armies of the world, each dressed up in the uniform of his own army.
Visitors can also visit the room dedicated to the revolution of January 31st 1891, considered the first attempt made in the country to form a republic.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From Tuesday to Friday (from 10:00 to 17:00), Saturdays and Sundays (from 19:00 to 12:30 and from 13:45 to 17:00).
Admission: General (€3), under 12 and older than 65 years, as well as every Wednesday (free).
Museo do vinho do Oporto
The Vinho do Porto Museum is located on the ground floor of the building Cais Novo, built to serve as a repository for the wines of the Compañía General de la Agricultura de los Viñedos del Alto Douro.
This museum space is intended to disseminate the culture associated with port wine. Inside, you can visit three rooms. One dedicated to the city, the other to the wine and, a third, to the River Douro.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30), Sundays (from 14:00 to 17:30).
Admission: General (€2.60), Young Carnet (€1.10), under 14 years old and retired (free), Saturdays and Sundays (free).
Museo do Carro Eléctrico
The Museo do Carro Electrico is also known as the Tram Museum. It is located in the building of the Oporto thermoelectric power station. Inside, you can visit a large collection of antique trams.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. Monday (from 14:00 to 18:00) and from Tuesday to Sunday (from 10:00 to 18:00).
Admission: General (€4), children between 4 and 12 years old and seniors (€2.50), under 4 years (free).
Información práctica:
Horario: Abre todos los días. Lunes (de 14:00 a 18:00) y de martes a domingo (de 10:00 a 18:00).
Entrada: General (4€), niños entre 4 y 12 años y personas de la tercera edad (2,5€), menores de 4 años (gratis).
Museo do Papel Moeda
The Museo do Papel Moneda is located in the Fundación Doctor António Cupertino. Inside, it has two spaces where permanent collections are exhibited. In one you can visit samples of paper currency and in the other, miniature figures of cars, boats, trains and aeroplanes.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes Saturdays and Sundays. Open from Monday to Friday (from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 15:00 to 18:00).
Admission: General (€3), under 6, disabled and Monday, all day (free).
Museo de Arte Sacra
The Museum of Sacred Art is located in the old school of San Lorenzo. This space houses a varied collection of religious art. Inside, the room dedicated to Irene Villar stands out, for it exhibits only pieces composed by the artist.
Practical information:
Timetable: Sundays, Mondays and holidays closed. Open from Tuesday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 14:30 to 17:00).
Entrance: General (€2), groups of more than 5 people (€1).
Museo da Misericórdia
The Museo da Misericórdia has a large collection of altarpieces and sculptures for altars and almost 500 portraits. You can also see several jewels and samples of Flemish painting, among which stands out the painting of Colijn de Corten, “Fons Vitae”, from 1520.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. From April to September (from 10:00 to 18:30). From October to March (from 10:00 to 15:30).
Admission: General (€5), Student (€2.50), older than 65 years (€2.50), groups of 10 people or more (€4), under 6 years (free).
Museo da Indústria
The Museo da Indústria de Porto collects and disseminates the archaeological and industrial heritage of the city and its surroundings. Its collection explains aspects of both the industrialization of the past and the current situation.
In its facilities, you can see various parts, machines and documents from the most relevant sectors of the city, such as the textile, steel, electricity or smelting sector.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday (from 9:30 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 18:00).
Información práctica:
Horario: Cierra los lunes. De martes a sábado (de 9:30 a 12:30 y de 14:30 a 18:00).
Librería Lello e Irmão
The Lello e Irmão bookshop is located in the city of Oporto. It is considered the most beautiful bookshop in Europe because of its neo-Gothic origin, from 1906. Inside you can see a lot of old detail.
The bookstore is covered with large shelves, which reach the ceiling, full of books. The bookstore is also popular for having been the scene of several films of the famous Harry Potter movie series.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. Monday to Friday (from 10:00 to 19:30) and Saturdays (from 10:00 to 19:00).
Jardines do Palácio de Cristal
The Palacio de Cristal Gardens are located in the old town of Oporto. It is a large green space that houses a sports pavilion, the municipal library and various trails surrounded by a wide variety of trees.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. From April to September (from 8:00 to 21:00). From October to March (from 8:00 to 19:00).
Iglesia y Torre dos Clérigos
The Church and Torre dos Clerigos are located in the historical centre of Oporto. Its construction dates from the years 1735 and 1748 and is in a Baroque style. It was built by the poor clerics, in the space where the executed were buried.
The tower stands out as the tallest turret in Portugal, 76 metres high. Inside it has more than 200 steps that lead to a viewpoint with a beautiful panorama of the city. From the top of the tower, you can also contemplate 49 bells.
Practical information:
Opening hours: Open daily (from 9:00 to 19:00).
Entrance: Church (free), Tower (€3).
Iglesia de São Lorenço dos Grilos
The Church of São Lorenço dos Grilos in the city of Oporto began to be built in the 16th century, but the works did not end until two centuries later. Of the temple, stands out its sobriety and the simplicity of its architectural style, which allows appreciating almost in detail each one of the stones that make it up.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closed on Sundays and Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00).
Iglesia de São Francisco
The Church of São Francisco de Porto was built by the Franciscan Friars and dates from 1245, although due to a large fire, the temple had to be subjected to a major repair. The origins of the church are Romanesque in style but in it you can also see architectural elements of Gothic and Baroque style.
With regard to its structure, it is divided into three naves that house various sizes embellished in powdered gold. In the lateral nave, one of the main attractions of the temple is located, the Jesse Tree, a sculpture elaborated in polychromatic wood, considered one of the best in the world of its kind.
Under the temple are the graves of various Franciscan Monks, as well as those of aristocratic families of the city.
Practical information:
Opening hours: open every day. From July to October (from 9:00 to 20:00), and from November to March (from 9:00 to 17:30).
Entrance: General (€3.50).
Gabinete de Numismática
The Numismatics Bureau is located in the building of the Casa Tait, built in 1988. The collection in this museum was launched in 1850, after the donation of several coins made by the British man John Francis Allen, although the area was not open to the public until 2009.
Inside, in addition to an important set of coins, medals, decorations, banknotes, coin printing machines, moulds, etc. can be seen.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes Sundays and public holidays. It opens from Monday to Friday (from 9:00 to 19:30), Saturdays (from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 15:00 to 19:00 – from April to October-and from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:30 – from November to March).
Admission: Free.
Forte de São Francisco Xavier do Queijo
El The São Francisco Xavier do Queijo Fort is also known as Castillo do Queijo. The construction took place in the second half of the 17th century, during the Portuguese Restoration War. The castle had the purpose of guarding and protecting the town from possible sea invasions by the Spanish Navy.
It is a fortification of small dimensions that stands out for its architectural sobriety. On its façade is a cover of an arch of half point on which is located the Portuguese coat of arms. The original construction still retains the four watchtowers and ten pieces of artillery.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From Tuesday to Sunday (from 13:00 to 18:00).
Estación de trenes de São Bento
The São Bento railway station in Oporto dates from the beginning of the 9th century and was erected on the ruins of the Convent of San Bento de Avé-Maria, which gave its name to the station. Of the building, its stately façade and its interior courtyard decorated with more than twenty thousand pieces of tiles stand out, in which the history of Portugal is depicted.
Practical information:
Opening hours: Open daily (from 13:00 to 18:00).
Museo Marta Ortigão Sampaio
The Marta Ortigão Sampaio House Museum is located in a building from the mid-20th century.
The collection in this museum space was donated by Marta Ortigão Sampaio, daughter of the famous Basque engineer Ortigão Sampaio, in 1978.
The museum was inaugurated in 1996 and has collections of jewellery, furniture and other belongings belonging to the family of the benefactor, both the father and the aunts, Aurélia de Souza and Sofía Souza.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From Tuesday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 17:30) and Sundays (from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:00 to 17:30).
Admission: General (€2.20), Young Carnet (€1.10), under 14 years old, pensioners and weekends (free).
Casa museo Fernando de Castro
The Fernando de Castro House Museum is managed by the National Museum of Soares dos Reis and houses paintings from the 16th to the 20th century, as well as various religious sculptures from the 16th to the 19th centuries and sacred art from the church and museums of the area.
The collection is possible thanks to the effort made by Fernando de Castro who for years collected various decorative pieces, in order to exhibit them in a museum. When he died, his sister donated the house and the whole collection of the interior to the state, to see thus fulfilled the dream of her brother.
Practical information:
Timetable: Wednesday (from 10:00 to 13:00).
Admission: Free.
Casa do Infante
La Casa do Infante is a palace where Enrique the Navigator resided in 1394. It is a medieval-style building, consisting of three floors where you can visit various exhibitions of mosaics and Roman foundations.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From Tuesday to Sunday (from 9:30 to 13:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30).
Admission: General (€2.20), Saturdays and Sundays (free).
Casa da Música
The Porto Music House is a concert hall that was built when the city was presented for its candidature as the European Capital of Culture. In the beginning, the candidacy was expected to take place in 2001, but finally, it could not be realized until later in 2005.
The construction of the building highlights its peculiar shape, eventually becoming one of the main icons of the city of Oporto.
Practical information:
Opening hours: Open every day. From Monday to Saturday (from 10:00 to 19:00), Sundays (from 10:00 to 18:00).
Admission: Guided tour (€5), under 12 years (free).
Fundación Serralves
The Serralves Foundation is composed of the ensemble formed by the Museum of Contemporary Art, the house, the Serralves Gardens, and an auditorium. The purpose of the foundation is to disseminate and promote contemporary art.
The Museum of Contemporary Art was inaugurated in 1999 and its collections bring together works from many avant-garde artists, although it also hosts some permanent exhibitions ranging from 1960 to the present day.
The complex has magnificent gardens of about 18 hectares that can be seen whilst visiting Serralves House.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. From April to September, from Tuesday to Friday (from 10:00 to 17:00), Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (from 10:00 to 20:0). From October to March, from Tuesday to Friday (from 10:00 to 17:00), Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (from 10:00 to 19:00).
Entrance: General (€8.50), gardens (€4), under 18 years and Sundays from 10:00 to 14:00 (free).
Museo de História Natural
The Museum of Natural History is located in the building of the Rectory of the University of Oporto. The space is divided into four areas, although at present only two are open to the public. These are the zoology room, where different Portuguese and mineralogical species are exposed, with more than 700 samples.
The other two rooms are devoted to palaeontology, with samples of stratigraphy and Portuguese palaeontology and other origins; with anthropology and prehistory.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes Saturdays and Sundays. Open from Monday to Friday (from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 16:30).
Admission: Free.
Mercado do Bolhão
The Bolhão Market has operated since 1914. The building in which it stands is divided into several areas around a central courtyard. In the different areas of the market you can find both old and modern shops, where typical foods from the region are sold.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Sundays. Monday to Friday (from 7:00 to 17:00) and Saturdays (from 7:00 to 13:00).
Museo dos Transportes e Comunicações
The Transport and Communications Museum has its origin in 1992 when 56 individuals and 25 institutions were coordinated to collect and disseminate information on related parts of transport and communications. Finally, in 2000, the museum was inaugurated.
The museum is located in a building known as the Alfândega Building, built in 1869, whose goal had been to house the Customs Office until it happened to host the museum.
In the museum area, you can visit several permanent exhibitions such as “The car in space and time”, “The communication of knowledge and imagination”, etc. The museum also exhibits temporary collections and has a programme of lectures, workshops and shows.
Practical information:
Timetable: Closes on Mondays. Open from Tuesday to Friday (from 10:00 to 18:00), Saturdays, Sundays and holidays (from 15:00 to 18:00).
Admission: To all exhibits (€7.50), General (€3), students and older than 65 years (€1.50), weekends and public holidays (free).
