Gothic Cross Meaning

What does this cross mean?

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What religion is it?

It looks like a tatoo

Top Ten Things to do in Porto

Porto Car Rental

1. Cais de Gaia
STUNNING SKYLINE PORTO AND THE TASTE OF PUERTO

Cais de Gaia The view from Cais de Gaia are perhaps the most lasting images of Oporto for visitors. It is impossible not to marvel at the impressive skyline of the city, whose impact is heightened by the colorful boats to be in front, and rising two stories Dom Luis Bridge.

Breathe in the atmosphere of the cafes and restaurants on the banks of the river (Bogani Café is especially recommended for a drink and chill-out sounds), then visit the clay cover port wine cellars that are behind them.

Most of the world supply of Port is stored and aged here, and a visit to any stores should not be missed. If you venture into the streets uphill, there are nineteenth-century mansions and lodges further port (Taylor is especially worth a visit).

It is best to come here in late afternoon and dinner with a view to Porto.

2. Serralves Museum
EDEN CULTURAL DE PORTO

Serralves Museum This museum of world-class art shows of international contemporary art in a striking minimalist building Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alvaro Siza Vieira.

Like the Guggenheim, no permanent collection on display, temporary exhibitions occupy all the space, as well as the separate House Serralves, "a pink Art Deco building located in the kinds of formal gardens (which are great and worth a visit in its own right).

Eighteen hectares of agricultural land also contain natural reasons, and are dotted with modern sculptures (including a giant shovel much-photographed by Claes Oldenburg Museum Serralves and Coosje van Bruggen).

Major exhibitions in the past have included "Andy Warhol: A Factory", "Francis Bacon: Caged – Uncaged" and " Paula Rego. "

This is a show not to be missed when visiting Oporto, and also be sure to stop by the museum shop for some of the best in design Portuguese.

If you're in town in late May or early June, be sure to visit the museum as one of "Serralves em Festa" festival 40 hours of free events related to art and contemporary culture.

3. Casa da Música
Port architectural marvel

The Casa da Musica twelve plants, irregularly shaped building designed by famed architect Rem Koolhaas exclusively for musical performances.

It opened in 2005 and for fans of the architectural wonders that warrants a visit to Porto on their own.

The imposing white concrete structure is a building of inventiveness. Inside the auditorium of 1,300 seats in the acoustically perfect body is a Baroque nailed to the wall, and the VIP room has hand-painted tiles, blending contemporary minimalism with traditional touches.
You can see everything on a guided tour highly recommended.
Top international orchestras have played here, and also a resident company.

Casa da Musica in the upper floor is "Kool" (the name of the architect?) One of the best restaurants in town. It serves a mostly Italian menu.

From outside the building some have described as the appearance of a meteorite landed in the middle of the city. It is located in the city's main avenue (Avenida da Boavista, which extends over 7 km to the sea), in a roundabout which is dominated by a column with a lion and a Frenchman flat eagle – a monument that celebrates the victory of the Portuguese and British in the War of Independence.

Location: Avenida da Boavista, 604-610
Getting There: Metro – Casa da Musica station
Contact: 22 012 0220
For more information: www.casadamusica.com

4. SÃO FRANCISCO CHURCH
Extraordinarily Oporto Luxurious CHURCH

What from the outside looks like an ordinary 14th century Gothic and baroque building, is within the most extraordinary church Porto and, undoubtedly, one of the most fabulously wealthy in Europe.

The extensive baroque decoration 17 and 18 is a profusion of gilded wood carvings in the vault of pillars and columns, cherubs, plants, and animals dripping with gold – note the "Jesse Tree", which dates from 1718.

What little that is not covered with pure gold (it is said that there are 400 kg of here) and the Gothic vaulting arches wide, is marble.

There is a museum located in the devices consisting of catacombs beneath the ancient monastery.

SÃ £ o Francisco Church Under the banners of the bodega are thousands of human bones, stored pending doom.

Church services are no longer here, but it is often the venue for concerts of classical music.

If only time to visit a church in Porto, make it this one.

Location: Largo de São Francisco
Getting There: Bus # 1
Contact: 22 206 2100

5. Cais da Ribeira
EL ALMA DE PORTO

The fascination Ribeira Ribeira district is made by medieval streets and seedy alleys. It is a fascinating place, but falling apart, ending in a square facing the river ("Praça da Ribeira).

Wth traditional photogenic boats floating dock overlooked by colorful old houses, this is the most picturesque of the city and the place everyone loves – UNESCO also did, and declared Heritage of Humanity Site.

Take a drink and enjoy the unique atmosphere, and return at night when it is particularly lively. There are dozens of cafes, bars and restaurants sheltered under medieval arches, making it the most popular neighborhood in the city to eat and drink.

The whole city seems to come for the holidays (especially in San Day John every June and New Year's Eve) to see the fireworks more important.

Ribeira In the center of the square is a bronze cube tables surrounded by cafes, and just around the corner on Rua da Alfândega is "Casa do Infante" (or "House of Prince"), where Prince Henry the Navigator, was born in 1394.

Over the years, the building also served as town house customs, and now contains the files of the city, including the document of baptism of Prince Henry, and other articles and manuscripts relating to the history of Porto.

From Ribeira also You can see the number of Port Wine houses across the river and the attractive waterfront Cais de Gaia.

Ribeira district is also the most romantic to stay in the city, and couples should consider Pestana Porto Hotel, or one of the apartments in the neighborhood.

Location: Riverfront / City center
Getting there: Go down to the river from the city center.

6. Palacio de la Bolsa
Lush Port "Reception Hall"

Palacio da Bolsa This building pompous 19th-century neoclassical facade with a large is the old stock that was built to impress and gain the credibility European investors.

Inside could be mistaken for a real place, especially the room, hung Arabic, an oval chamber was intended as a copy of the Palace of the Alhambra in Granada. Now is "the fourth great reception" of the city where luminaries and other heads of state are received on a visit to Oporto.

Another noteworthy room is yard das Nações, illuminated by a large skylight is a great example of iron architecture. Flags most of the countries that had trade relations with Porto are represented here.

Also notable is a large staircase with two chandeliers bronze hanging from the dome.

Location: Rua de Ferreira Borges
Getting There: Bus # 1
Contact: 22 339 9000
For more: www.palaciodabolsa.pt

7. Luis I Bridge DOM
AN jewel HARDWARE

Dom Luis I Bridge Port iconic bridge opened in 1886, when it held the record for the longest iron arch in the world. Today the subway crosses the upper level, while the lower level is used by cars and pedestrians to cross the river between downtown Porto and spectacular views of the city and port wine stores in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Four other bridges in the city, best seen on a cruise on the Douro River. The most famous of all is the impressive Puente de Dona Maria Pia, also an iron railway bridge, completed in 1876. Designed by Gustave Eiffel built before the famous tower in Paris and named after King Louis I's wife, who held the world record seven years longer. It remained in service until 1991, but today is a national monument (also designated an international "Historic engineering Civil "by the American Society of Civ).

The bridges are other Ponte do Infante (whose center of 280-meter reinforced concrete arch is the longest the world), the triple arch Ponte de San Juan, and Arrábida Bridge – the least attractive of the city's bridges, but represents a feat of engineering that encompasses 270 meters, and with the support of a single arch. It was the largest reinforced concrete as a bridge when it opened in 1963.

Location: Cais da Ribeira
How there: walk from downtown to the waterfront and Cais da Ribeira

8. KNOW DO PORTO
PORTO the fortress-like cathedral

Austere Oporto Cathedral of strength is where Prince Henry the Navigator was baptized and where King John I married the English Princess Philippa of Lancaster in the 14th century.

The building has its origins in the 12th century, although it underwent many changes over time.

The Gothic rose window is the only part of the original facade remains, especially after alterations of the Baroque in the 18th century.

The Lodge on the north side was added at the time, like the extraordinary altarpiece inside, where Silver entirety.

The most prominent Gothic cloisters of the church itself, covered in magnificent blue and white tiles of the 18th century.

Port cloister of the cathedral is also worth visiting is the dazzling Chapter House and its collection of sacred art.

Before entering, look at the beautiful views the roofs of the old port from the terrace and admire the magnificent three-story facade of the Palacio Episcopal, whose interior can not be visited.

Although the cathedral is the city's largest church, the most impressive church in Porto de São Francisco is the church that has a magnificent interior of gold not to be missed by anyone visit the city.

Location: Sé Terreiro
Directions: Walk from São Bento station.
Contact: 22 205 9028

9. Tower of Clerics
Overlooking the city of his iconic

Tower of Clerics Clerics church tower was the tallest structure in Portugal when completed in 1763 (the national registry is now the Basque Lisboa da Gama Tower), and as the main feature of the skyline, ships used as a guide for entry into Cais da Ribeira.

Baroque is a notable landmark designed by Italian architect Nasoni, who also designed the adjacent church. It has become a popular tourist attraction for the aerial view of the city from on high (76 meters high – after a steep 240 steps). Inside the church, stands a Baroque-Rococo polychrome altarpiece marble.

Opposite the tower is Cordoaria gardens and an imposing neo-classical building is old Pombaline prison of the city. The ground floor houses a photography museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions. The collection includes works by a Scotsman named William Frederick photos Flowers who spent much of his life in Oporto in the 19th century, and that (many of them from Oporto) is Portugal's oldest.

From here you can the monumental Hospital Santo Antonio, classified as a national monument being a notable example of 18th-century neoclassical architecture.

Location: Rua de São Filipe de Nery
Directions: Paseo de la Avenida dos Aliados
Contact: 22 200 1729

10. Soares dos Reis Museum
The oldest museum in Portugal's national

Soares dos Reis Museum This was the first designated National Museum of Portugal. It was founded in 1833 to showcase works of art from the dissolved monasteries and convents, including a valuable collection paint, glass, ceramics and jewelry (especially noteworthy is a 18th century piece breast adorned with precious stones).

most emblematic work of the collection is "O Exile" ("The Exhiled") by the sculptor Soares dos Reis (after the museum is named), but also of note are two portraits of François Clouet (1522-1572), and the landscapes of Jean Pillement (1727-1808).

Another highlight is the enormous "Pedra de Eiro" a rock taken from a land trodden by the River Douro, engraved with spiral motifs typical megalithic art of western Europe.

Location: Rua D. Manuel II
Getting there: Several buses, including # 3, 20, 35, 37
Contact: 22 339 3770

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