29 Nov 2022
8 a.m. - Waking up at Hotel Memória with a fabulous view over the Douro River, an excellent hotel recently remodeled, maintaining its previous features such as the Portuguese stone, the walls, and the worked ceilings. Get ready and have a delicious breakfast in a beautiful, tranquil dining room overlooking the river.
9 a.m. - Right next to the Hotel Memória, there´s the Igreja de São Francisco (Church of Saint Francis). One of the most beautiful monuments in the city, you can not miss.
Franciscan friars began building this church in the year 1245. Although the Romanesque origine of the church, it was transformed into the Gothic style and later has gained a Baroque decoration. The church's interior comprises three naves coated with gilded woodcarvings. Under the floor of the San Francisco church are hidden its catacombs, a place where many of the members of the brotherhood of the Franciscan order are buried, as well as some of the city's noble families.
10 a.m. - Enjoy the opportunity to stroll around the city streets and shop at Rua de Santa Catarina, where there are numerous stores, and also at Avenida dos Aliados where you can find majestic buildings and the best shops in the city: Tod’s, Burberry, David Rosas, and Boutique dos Relógios Plus.
1 p.m. - Have lunch in the Rua das Flores and Largo de São Domingos area, where there are a range of good restaurants such as Cantina 32, Traça, and Mistu, among others.
2:30 p.m. - The Miradouro da Vitória (a viewpoint) is located right in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, in one of the most beautiful sites in the city. This Jewish quarter history tells us that in the XIV century, King D. João I delimited an area with high walls and access gates where all the Jews should live; it was like a city in the city of Porto. That period lasted around 100 years until the arrival of the Inquisition.
3:00 p.m.- Porto is full of various churches and monuments to visit. The Clérigos Tower is one of the best places to continue this visit; there, you can take the stairs to the top of the Tower and enjoy an unique view of Porto. Afterwards, go on to Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas Descalços. Between these two churches there's a house that is the narrowest house in Portugal, named the "Casa Escondida" (The Hidden House). Finish the tour at Livraria Lello, which is very close to these two churches.
6:00 p.m.- Go to one of the two most beautiful locations to enjoy a unique view of the sunset in the city - Passeio das Virtudes or Jardim do Morro, in Gaia.
8:30 p.m. – Call an Uber and have dinner in one of the most prestigious locations of Porto, the Foz do Douro, in the restaurant Cafeína. After dinner you can return to the Hotel.