What to visit in the North of Portugal
5. Douro Internacional Nature Park
1. Cais da Ribeira
Cais da Ribeira is one of the most typical and visited places in Porto. Located by the Douro riverbank, Cais da Ribeira is part of the Historic Center of Porto, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is often visited by tourists, and there are several bars and restaurants. It was voted one of the world's mst beautiful streets.
2. D. Luis I Bridge
The D. LuÃs I bridge is an ex-libris of the city, and it appears in almost all postcards. Crossing it is almost "mandatory" while visiting Porto. It consists of two overlapping iron trays and it was inaugurated in 1886. In 1996, it was classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.
3. Lello Bookshop
The Lello Bookshop, located at Rua das Carmelitas in Porto, is considered one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. It was inaugurated in 1906 and is a symbol of Porto. Its Art Nouveau façade, the red spiral staircase and the large stained-glass window on the ceiling make this bookshop an authentic work of art.
4. Palácio da Bolsa
Palácio da Bolsa was built in 1842 due to the closing of the Casa da Bolsa do Comércio and today it is one of the most sought after heritage buildings in Porto. The building combines several architectural styles, such as Neoclassic and Neopaladian. It is currently the seat of the Porto's Commercial Association, but it also hosts cultural, social and political events.
5. Douro International Nature Park
The Douro International Nature Park covers the border counties of the Douro River, such as Miranda do Douro and Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo. The gorges carved by the Douro and Agueda rivers are extremely deep and of great beauty. These steep banks have a rich fauna, containing birds like the Gryphon, the Egyptian Vulture and the Royal Eagle.
6. Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary
The Santuário de Bom Jesus do Monte is located in Braga and consists of a church, a stairway (Via Sacra do Bom Jesus), a forest area (Bom Jesus Park), hotels and a funicular (Elevador do Bom Jesus) . The resort of Bom Jesus is a religious and tourist resort, having been built to reproduce the city of Jerusalem. In 2015 it became part of the indicative list of Portugal for UNESCO World Heritage.
7. Guimarães Castle
Guimarães Castle, located on Monte Largo, is a monument of great significance for the History of Portugal. It's connected to the Portucalense foundation and the struggles of Portugal´s independence, being called the nation's birthplace. It is classified as a National Monument and it was elected as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal in 2007.
Guimarães also is one of Portugal's top 3 cities.
8. Passadiços do Paiva
The Passadiços do Paiva are located on the left bank of the river Paiva, in the municipality of Arouca, in Aveiro. Altogether there are eight kilometers of wooden boardwalks surrounded by unique landscapes.The route extends between the river beaches of Areinho and Espieunca. You can also enjoy the rest of the territory of Arouca Geopark, classified by UNESCO as a Geological Heritage of Humanity.
