LEIXOES, PORTUGAL

The Oporto that we shall see today dates mainly from the 18th century, when trade was booming and merchants financed fine houses for themselves. We will have the chance to see some of the city’s finest buildings on this tour.

Oporto, the second largest city in Portugal, has imposing streets and squares. The Avenida do Aliados, an impressive avenue at the heart of the city, stretching from Praça da Liberdade to Praça D. João, proclaims that the city would not have been a poor relation in an 18th century European community, and that agriculture is not the be-all and end-all of northern Portugal. During our tour, we will visit the most important buildings and monuments of the city.

The Cathedral, which was originally 12th century Romanesque, has been altered over the centuries and was extensively rebuilt in the 17th and 18th centuries. Nevertheless there are some rich altars and a Gothic cloister. The Stock Exchange, with its fantastic Moorish Hall, is another place we shall visit. The 19th century building was constructed to impress European investors, and is now where heads of state are received when they visit Oporto.

We then proceed over the Douro River by way of the unique double-deckered Dom Luís Bridge, which is thoroughly Eiffelesque, to Vila Nova de Gaia and to a well-known port wine cellar, where we can sample this precious nectar.

TOUR NOTES: This tour involves some walking during our visit to the Cathedral, approximately 30 minutes of walking at the wine cellar, plus a few steps, and around 45 minutes of walking at the Stock Exchange, plus 30 steps to negotiate. Unfortunately the Stock Exchange is not wheelchair accessible. Please note that the Cathedral is closed on public holidays, therefore a visit will be made to the Church of Carmo instead.

DESCRIPTION CORRECT FOR 2010 CANARIES & MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES