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This is a view of the Don Luis Bridge over the Rio Douro connecting the city of Gaia with Porto. The bridge is a symbol of Porto like the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. The similaries between the two structures is not accidental. The Don Luis bridge was inspired by another bridge across the Rio Duro designed by Mr. Eiffel.
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The Campanhã station in Porto is one of the major transfer points for the train system out of Porto, along with the São Bento and Trinidade stations in down town Porto. The Campanhã station was renovated in 1999.
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The beach area of Porto, known as the Foz, has a delightful "passieo" or walk way just of above the beach and rocks. This is a view of one section.
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Throughout Portugal there are small store like this one. While this one was located with in a few blocks of the mission office and home, it is very typical of what is seen in every city. the shops may be no more that one room. As a result, the produce often is displayed on the street. There is a little shop like this every couple of blocks making it so that the local people would not have to walk more than a few hundred yards from their apartments to purchase fruit, vegetables, milk, olive oil, rice, bread, etc.
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This store is a beautiful example of the architecture of yesterday. The figures on the sides and above the door and windows are painted on tiles or azulejos. Decorations with azulejos are very typical and unique to Portugal, both inside and outside.Notice the pattern in the side walk in front of the store. The pattern is made from a mosiac like arrangement of white and black stones about two inches square. The Portuguese have ornate sidewalks.
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This is a view from the top of the Torre dos Clerigos, a stone bell tower constructed in the 18th century. It is a wonderful experience to climb to the top. The view of Porto is very breathtaking. From the top you get a 360 degree view of the heart of the older sections of Porto. Climbing the narrow steps is an experience by itself. You hope the stones stay put after 250 years.
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Construction of houses is very different in Portugal compared to the United States. In the United States houses are built out of wood. In Portugal, house are built of concrete and masonry. This is a picture of two house in various stages of completion. Note that the walls are made of red brick. The floors are reinforce concrete. By comparisons, houses in the US seem so temporary.
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The roofs of Portugal are very similar. Nearly all the roofs are made of reddish orange tiles. As a result, views of dwellings are very picturesque, whether in the city or in the country. You can also see many delapidated buildings that are characterist of Portuguese Cities. In the distance you can see the city of Gaia.
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This is a typical street in the older parts of Porto. The streets are narrow and cobblestoned. The buildings are typically four to six stories high. As narrow as this street seems, it is still very passable by motor vehicles. When this happens the pedestrians will often have to duck into the recessed entrance portals. The remains of recent holiday decorations remain between the buildings. This street in in the middle of the older part of Porto.
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One of the largest monuments in the City of Porto is located in the Boa Vista round-a-about (rotunda). This rotunda is a very large, circular traffic control mechanism. It is a circle about 100 meters in diameter in which the traffic flows in a counter clock wise direction. Traffic from roughly eight major streets intersect with this rotunda. In the center of this rotunda is a large park with a monument celebrating the victory of the English and Portuguese over Napoleon's armies. In the monument, the lion represents Britain defeating the French eagle.
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Links to pages about specific wards and chapels in the Porto area.
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