Mar 26th, 2020, 10:45 PM

Alone, But Not Lonely in Porto

By Sophia Scalzo
(Porto, Portugal, Image Credit: Martine Reichmanova/ Unsplash)
How to Navigate the Coastal City in a Day

While on a trip visiting my family in Portugal I realized very quickly that Porto is one of the most breathtaking cities in Europe. Not only does it have incredible touristic offerings, but also, most of the city is filled with tall cobblestone hills and stairs that truly take your breath away. Once you focus past the workout that moving through this city gives you, you are taken away by the incredible food, architecture, views, and rich history that this beautiful Portuguese destination provides. To first combat the many steps you take to travel this city, it is easiest to think about the mouth-watering food that can be found anywhere in Porto. 

(Porto, Image Credit: Sophia Scalzo)

To begin my day, I headed to Casa Guedes, Porto’s most acclaimed sandwich shop. As a city located on the water, I knew I would be fortunate enough to be offered some of the best seafood in the region. However, at Casa Guedes, the sande de pernil, which is a soft roast pork sandwich, stole the limelight. Starting my trip here, truly made the most sense because it was unforgettable when looking back on my busy day. Now with a full stomach, I traveled to one of the most visible landmarks in Porto, the Clérigos Church, steps away from where I was staying. The Clérigos Church had completed construction in 1750, and is famous for its baroque style architecture and bell tower which can be seen from most of Porto. I walk around the church which is styled similarly to a museum with facts about the architecture and different archetypes from Christianity. The most breathtaking view is from the bell tower, where for six euros you can bask in the skyline of Porto. I was fortunate enough to travel on a day with clear skies and have the best view possible.

(Clérigos Church, Image Credit: Sophia Scalzo)

After climbing down the steep steps of the bell tower, I strolled through the cobble-stoned streets to my next destination, the Livraria Lello. It is a bookstore from the late 1800’s, which is famous for being the inspiration for J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Series. The intricate architecture, staircase, stained glass windows, and air filled with the scent of ancient books leaves you immediately feeling as though you walked into a previous century, or fictional universe. The similarities to the scenery in the Harry Potter movie series are evident, and I was quickly transported back to my adolescence being reminded of some of my favorite scenes from the movies. From the bookstore, I trekked across the city of Porto over to the Ponte da Arrabida bridge, which crosses the Douro river. From here, I was amazed by the view of all of Porto with the backdrop of the beautiful sun setting on the warm spring sky.

(Porto, Image Credit: Sophia Scalzo)

By the time I am ready and finished taking photos of this view, I travel to a seafood restaurant, Bacalhau, which specializes in a dish in which gives the restaurant its name. Bacalhau is the Portuguese word for cod, and while there are many ways to prepare it in Porto, I decided to go with the Bacalhau a Bras. The dish is a fresh preparation where the chef lightly salts the cod over potatoes. In my case, it was made over an egg. The restaurant is situated on the water, so it was more of a challenge to eat my meal before the seagulls fought me for it. Along with my meal, I could not pass up trying a glass of Port wine, one of the sweet delicacies native to the city.

(Bacalhau, Image Credit: Sophia Scalzo)

Traveling to Porto, I came with no expectations, but every step of the way I was floored with what this city has to offer. The food, architecture, and natural views of the city are unmatched and this wonderful city has yet to flee my mind since I left. As a person who grew up on the shore, I’m happy to have found a place that provides a similar feeling. I know that when I'm homesick and can’t make it to the U.S., I can still return to Porto to fill the void that being surrounded by concrete buildings as opposed to crashing waves brings.

 

You can learn more about Porto here and a recipe to make your own Bacalhau a Bras here.