Miradouro de Santa Catarina: an (almost) secret refuge

Largo de Santa Catarina

Located at the top of one of Lordelo do Ouro's hills, the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is an oasis of tranquillity and beauty, far from the hustle and bustle of the busiest streets. You can get there via Rua das Condominhas or Rua do Senhor da Boa Morte - in the latter case, the climb takes more effort, but the reward is great: the blue image of the river meeting the sea. This elevated refuge, with its unobstructed views, offers a setting that looks like it's straight out of an old postcard, dominated by the Douro estuary, and which still retains traces of a vanishing rurality. From there you can peek into neighbours' backyards, where geese bathe in a small lake and the highest branches of fruit trees frame the landscape.

The charm of the Miradouro de Santa Catarina is not limited to the panoramic views. It is also a place of contemplation and peace. It's the perfect place for a moment of introspection, a quiet conversation or simply to let your thoughts wander freely in the gentle breeze coming off the Atlantic. We suggest a visit at sunset on a clear, sunny day, with the golden light illuminating the landscape, creating shadows and contrasts that emphasise Porto's natural and architectural beauty. At nightfall, the lights add a romantic glow to this setting.

Chapel of Santa Catarina and Senhora dos Anjos

Located in Largo de Santa Catarina, this viewpoint is hidden behind the small chapel dedicated to Santa Catarina and Senhora dos Anjos, built at the end of the 14th century on the initiative of the sailors of Lordelo do Ouro and later enlarged in the 19th century. Its white façade features tiled figures of the two saints: Santa Catarina and Nossa Senhora dos Anjos.

Miradouro da Rua das Aldas: A trip to authentic Porto

Rua das Aldas

More touristy is the Rua das Aldas viewpoint, located in the historic quarter, next to the Church of São Lourenço, better known as the Church of the Crickets, and a few steps from the Cathedral of Porto, which offers an unobstructed view over the city and the River Douro.

Rua das Aldas is one of the oldest streets in Porto, with origins dating back to the medieval period. Its strategic location on top of a hill makes it a privileged vantage point for observing the city's urban and river landscape. From the Rua das Aldas viewpoint, our view can take in several of the city's iconic landmarks: to the left, the Clérigos Tower and, to the right, our gaze is drawn to the D. Luís I Bridge and the colourful houses that descend towards the banks of the Douro. A trip to the Rua das Aldas viewpoint is also an invitation to explore the entire historic centre of Porto.

Virtudes: an encounter with history and nature of Porto

The name Virtudes is "a singularity in Porto's toponymy", as journalist Germano Silva said, because it identifies a fountain, a pavement and a walkway. But it was the fountain, built in 1619 on the initiative of the Porto City Council, that gave the place its name because, the ancients said, its water had the "virtue" of curing certain illnesses.

It is in Porto's Historic Centre that we come across a path that is both a journey through time and a celebration of urban beauty. The Calçada das Virtudes offers an experience of discovery and contemplation, in which we are transported to another era. This route, made up of time-worn stone steps, winds between old buildings and ivy-covered walls. It's a real invitation to explore, where curiosity is rewarded with beautiful views and architectural details - and with the terrace of Rancho do Douro Litoral, the organisation featured in this issue's Postcode 4000-something.

As you walk down, you can enjoy the serenity of the Jardim das Virtudes, which develops in terraces up the hillside, with its centenary trees (this is where you'll find the largest Ginkgo biloba L. in Portugal, an 18th century tree from China, measuring around 35 metres) and panoramic views over the Douro River and Gaia. Open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the summer, the entrance to Virtudes Park is via Rua de Azevedo de Albuquerque.

At the top, Passeio das Virtudes is one of the city's most popular spots for watching magical sunsets, a veritable balcony over Miragaia and the entire Virtudes valley, which has long since ceased to be a secret. It's still worth a stop.

Miradouro do Bairro Nossa Senhora: an unknown refuge with unobstructed views

R. do Abade de Baçal, 240

Hidden among the narrow streets and enchanting hills of Porto, the Miradouro do Bairro Nossa Senhora is little known to tourists and offers a peaceful perspective on the city. Located in an authentic Porto neighbourhood, the walk to the viewpoint is a journey of discovery. When you reach the viewpoint, you are greeted by a panoramic view: on one side, the omnipresent Douro River, on the other, the city that unfolds in layers, with its red roofs, the towers of the Massarelos church and the Arrábida Bridge tracing an elegant line on the horizon.

Fonte do Caco [Caco Fountain]: a jewel of Massarelos

R. dos Moinhos

Located near the Jardim da Pena, the Fonte do Caco is a hidden gem of Massarelos, a surprise that reveals itself to those who venture off the beaten track. This ancient fountain, made of robust granite, is a silent witness to Porto's history. Sitting next to the fountain on one of the weathered stone benches is an invitation to introspect.

This imposing fountain is part of one of the four themed routes of the Caminhos do Romântico (Romantic Paths), which aim to reveal a little of the contradictions of 19th century Porto, romantic and bourgeois, rural and industrial. The Water Route follows the old beds of the Massarelos stream and its tributary, the River Vilar. Following Rua da Macieirinha, you'll discover fountains and washhouses that used to supply noble and bourgeois estates and small agricultural fields.

After visiting the Fonte do Caco, we also suggest that you continue your walk, crossing Rua D. Pedro V and continuing along Rua da Pena to Rua do Gólgota, where the writer Agustina Bessa-Luis lived, ending at Via Panorâmica, with views of Arrábida.

Escadaria das Macieirinhas: a sensorial experience

R. das Macieirinhas 

It's worth getting lost in the enchanting labyrinth that can be Porto's streets and stumbling upon the Escadaria das Macieirinhas. Anyone who ventures down its stone steps will have a memorable experience: As you descend the staircase, you'll be delighted by the view that opens up: the Douro River appears on the horizon, gently meandering through the hills that embrace it. The Escadaria das Macieirinhas may not be just a walk, but a complete sensorial experience: the scent of the flowers that sprout from the stone walls and the small vegetable plots and gardens, the sound of the birds and the cool breeze that blows off the river provide an enveloping symphony. Here, you can feel the true essence of Porto, away from the tourist hustle and bustle.

Calçada da Arrábida: a picturesque walk

Located in the western part of Porto, the Calçada da Arrábida winds its way through the hills that lead down to the banks of the River Douro, offering open views and moments of serenity. Perhaps it's more interesting to walk up it than down it - for those who value the effort. Along the way, there are small viewpoints that invite you to take contemplative breaks. These vantage points offer good views over the river and the city, allowing you to absorb the beauty of Porto from a privileged perspective. On the day of our walk, we met a resident of Campanhã, a driver by profession, contemplating the views while exercising. He told us that whenever he brings clients to the area, he stops there to "enjoy the views and breathe". "This view is marvellous!" he said.

For nature lovers, the promenade offers a unique opportunity to explore the local flora: the edges of the path are lined with plants and flowers. And it's an ideal route for morning walks or evening strolls, whether for a relaxing walk or an invigorating hike.

Jardim da Praça de Liége : among masters of architecture

Praça de Liége, Foz do Douro

In the square whose name is a tribute from the people of Porto to the inhabitants of the Belgian city who fought heroically against the Germans during their invasion in the First World War, and which lent its title to the novel by the writer Rebordão Navarro, lives a small garden. Carefully preserved and surrounded by elegant buildings, Jardim da Praça de Liége - with its gravel paths, red-painted wooden benches that invite you to take a reading break, flower beds and majestic trees - can be a cosy refuge on hot summer days. And it is precisely in this square that two of the greatest names in contemporary Portuguese architecture live: Pritzker Prize winners Álvaro Siza Vieira and Eduardo Souto de Moura.

Pathways to the sea

A few hundred metres from Praça de Liége, the Farol da Luz [an old lighthouse] stands like an ancient (and abandoned) sentinel, guiding the eyes and steps of those strolling through Foz. To walk down Rua do Monte da Luz is to walk towards the vast blue sea that opens up in front of you.

Parque Oriental da Cidade
Av. Francisco Xavier Esteves (Campanhã)
Open 24/7

Along the banks of the Tinto river, the Parque Oriental da Cidade, with its nooks and crannies, is a good option for a picnic, whether by the lake, on its grassy terraces or in the shade of the maritime pines, cork oaks and oaks. It's also an ideal place for walking or cycling on the tarmac cycle path.

Jardim de Paulo Vallada (Jardim das Pedras)
R. Dom Agostinho de Jesus e Sousa, 49 (Bonfim)
Open 24/7

Jardim de Paulo Vallada is a very pleasant green space in the centre of Porto. Easily accessible by several means of public transport, the park serves as a peaceful refuge for local residents looking to escape the urban hustle and bustle. It stands out for the diversity of facilities and infrastructures it offers, ideal for people of all ages. It combines leisure, children's play and sports areas, as well as a large lawn, ideal for picnics. There is also the advantage that these facilities can be combined with the dog park, created in 2019. As it's fenced off, it's an excellent place to get some fresh air with your four-legged friends, who can run and play freely without a lead (but in accordance with the rules laid down and posted).

Parque das Águas do Porto (Parque Nova Sintra)
R. Barão de Nova Sintra, 285 (Bonfim)

Monday to Sunday from 9am to 7pm

Just over five minutes' walk from the Faculty of Fine Arts, this park, which looks like an open-air museum home to Porto's centuries-old fountains, is still unknown to many Porto residents. A space for leisure and recreation, Parque das Águas is divided into several areas (garden, woodland and forest). Following one of the several routes, the southern path (Rua do Rio), we have privileged views over the territory and the landscape, the Douro river and its banks, the Campanhã valley and the hills of Porto. From there, we can see the Areinho River Beach, and next to one of the most iconic pieces by the writer Julião Sarmento, "Self-portrait as a fountain", there are three stone tables and benches, which invite you to take a break for a snack to the sound of the fountain's running water. In another area of the park, there is also a swing to rest your body and another space with several wooden tables and benches. The park's unique heritage value was recognised by UNESCO in 2021 with its inclusion in the UNESCO International Network of Water Museums.

Quinta do Covelo

Rua do Bolama/Rua de Faria de Guimarães (Paranhos)

Main entrance: 07h - 20h

Children's playground entrance: 10h - 19h45

Quinta do Covelo is an eight-hectare green space, ideal for a family day out. The entrance from Rua de Faria Guimarães, via a steep staircase, gives direct access to a hillside covered in native vegetation: oak trees, cork oaks, stone pines and maritime pines. In the lower part of Quinta do Covelo is the old manor house and a paved, straight path with benches and tree-lined walkways. On one side of the path, on a gentle slope, there is an extensive lawn where you can find young girls in bikinis sunbathing; this is a good place to picnic; on the opposite side is the well-equipped children's playground. We would also like to highlight the wooded area, which takes us away from the city, and the "Rotunda do Carvalho", one of the calmest and quietest places for those looking for tranquillity.