Visit of Porto
I want to start this Article with the Igreja de Sto Ildefonso. The church, that by the way is in front of my hotel, was built in the first half of 1700 and has blue tiles on the facade, called Azulejos .
Azulejos , as we will see later, are very popular in Portugal and can be found everywhere: in interior and exterior of houses, churches, palaces, restaurants, bars and even railways or subway stations.
The first Church I visited is Igreja de São Francisco. The Church of São Francisco was built in the 14th century, during the reign of King D. Fernando. It is the most prominent Gothic monument in Porto. Unfortunately no pictures inside the church are allowed, therefore i can show only the picture of the chapel next the church. The church is very beautiful with inside baroque style gold decorations.
Under the Igreja de São Francisco are the catacombs, where members of Porto’s wealthiest families and Franciscan's monks were buried. In the catacombs there is also an ossuary with several human bones, which can be admired through a transparent glass on the floor.
Here is a picture of myself, inside the catacombs, under the Igreja de São Francisco.
Only a short distance away from the church of Igreja de São Francisco is the Fort de São Francisco Xavier.
The fort, designed by Miguel l'Ecole, was built in 1661. It was occupied by the Absolutists in 1832 and badly damaged by the Liberals' batteries. It was abandoned for many years before it became the headquarters of the Oporto Naval Brigade's 1st Company. It was handed over to the Northern Commandos Association in 1975.
The Fort de São Francisco Xavier cannot be visited, at least not today, as the main door is closed. Is is situated along the coast, therefore, just a few meters away, is the Atlantic Ocean :)
Here is a picture of me on the rocks next to the Fort de São Francisco Xavier. In the background the ocean.
Can you spot New York? (spoil: you will have to zoom a lot .... )
This is a fantastic place, full of history and that arouses many emotions.
From the Portugal's coast, during the 1500s, ships sailed to the new world , now known as America.
Next picture is also fantastic. It shows the the mouth of the Douro River. This point indicates the end of the Douro River. Beyond the two columns is the Atlantic Ocean.
OK! This is nothing amazing but still interesting. Police in Porto has an electric car.
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