Blue Porto
Because to the blue of the sky-luckily-, we add that of the Oceano, that of the Duero river flowing into urban meanders and add the picturesque touch of tiles of the same color in churches such as Capela das Almas, Sao Ildenfonso, Sao Antonio, Santa Clara, also public buildings like Säo Bento Station ... Then Porto is rather blue.
Although the "wabi sabi" "pastelero" of facades of so many buildings, the windows, the concert of laid clothes, play with all the pantone.
Attributed to Gustave Eiffel, who as a tourist guide informed us came to have an office in the building of La Bolsa was designed by a partner of this, the German engineer Théophile Seyrig. In any case a beautiful iron structure that obviously reminds of Eiffel; With a few "lego" iron from the Parisian tower would be possible to make the bridge.
The result is that the economic growth of the region between Porto and Valença on the border has been and is far superior to that of its limited regions in Portugal and in Spain. Another highlight is the conversion of its airport into an advantageous international hub against the dispersion of the three Galician airports.
Let's continue with the tourist visit.
Near the Clerigos tower the bookstore founded in 1869 by Ernesto Chardron as International Bookstore, it is a unique example of Modernism. Always appreciated for its beauty, not so much for its sales suffering a crisis in 2015 when it was about to close but since the disclosure of it as a source of inspiration for J.K. Rowling, who lived in this city and married a Portuguese, today is plagued by tourists because of the popularity of Harry Potter. Now sells more books but especially tickets to be visited for 12.50 euros.
Neoclassical building from the mid -19th headquarters of the Commercial Association of Porto.
The highlights are the "Patio de las Naciones", a portuguese international vocation and the Árábiga Hall inspired by the Alhambra, it could have been also a Japanese room according to our guide - also of the taste of the mid-nineteenth century - but they opted for Andalusian orientalism.Heritage of humanity by unesco.
This Exchange has been operational until 1994 when all the activity in Lisbon was focused.
Begining its construction in the twelfth century, it concluded in the thirteenth century, Romanesque structure, facade, towers and rose window in addition to the three "naves" with a barrel vault, highlighting for its time the use of "arbotantes" in the central one.
The exterior of the cathedral was modified in 1722, in the baroque. Its new facade was built in replacement of the original Romanesque. The balustrades and domes of the towers are also baroque.
It is interesting inside the different altars, highlighting one in silver and the image of San Pantaleón.
The valuable interior in its highly decorated rooms houses a collection of liturgical objects.
The house was built in 1923 by Carlos Alberto Cabral, aristocrat of the textile industry. Design by the French architect Charles Siclis and executed by the portuguese José Marqués de Silva.
The gardens of Jacques Gréber in 1932. It was completed in 1940.
In 1999 house and gardens joined a Museum of Contemporary Art by Alvaro Siza Vieira.
Hosting an interesting collection in 14 rooms and eventual exhibitions, at the time of our visit : Joan Jonas's, pioneer of perfomance and video art.
The force of feeling accompanied by guitars in musical notes and a voice that faints and resurfaces.
Our singer in the "Casa da Guitarra" added a delicate and funny way of moving.
And Porto is all this, its squares and streets highlighting the lower part of the Rua Santa Catarina with the Majestic Café, the Plaza da Liberdade with, among public buildings such as the City Hall, a Mc Donald's considered the most luxurious in the World, the "ruas de Cedofeita or Las Flores", shops with shop windows and signs anchored in time, of fabrics, footwear or groceries, their confectionaries with the national specialty, cream cakes, their restaurants throughout the city and with more tourist vocation in the Ribeira with a wide gastronomic offer from the simple "francesinhas" or "bifanas" to the diversity of "bacalhaus".
