The Best of Porto for Design Lovers –  Recognized by the birthplace of worldwide delicacies, Portos’ wine, this city is one of the few on the world that still preserves the places with history and traditional culture. In spite of the gastronomic goodness, in here you can also find the best spots with true works of art.

Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe, that’s why it is full of history and amazing artwork. Considered a World Heritage by UNESCO, for the design lovers there are many spots that you must visit. The hometown of the architecture prize winners (Álvaro Siza Vieira, and Eduardo Souto Moura) breathes art and exquisite design. It is almost like you are standing in an open-air museum!

Covet House

Located just a few minutes away from the famous Ribeira, we can find our first stop is the Covet House, standing near the Douro river. This place is an ancient three-floor waterfront mansion, with a  timeless scenario and personalized rooms. The exquisite interior design includes many masterpieces of Boca do Lobo, Brabbu, Essential Home and DelightFULL.We can say that it’s considered one of the best showrooms in town because it shows you the potential of luxury design.

Website: https://www.covethouse.eu/covet-showrooms/covet-douro/
Address: Avenida Clube de Caçadores 4604, 4515-654 Porto, Portugal

Serralves Foundation

Another mandatory destination for you to visit in this beautiful city is definitely the Serralves Foundation and its amazing gardens. In the Serralves Foundation, the focal point would definitely be the masterpiece building created by the one and only architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, that is complemented with the amazing gardens that show you the true beauty of nature.

Website: http://serralves.pt/
Address: Rua Dom João de Castro 210, 4150-417 Porto

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Avenida dos Aliados

In here we are at the exact center of the city. Located in the beautiful downtown area, this avenue is the main one among all that constitute this city. The buildings that surround it go back to the 18th and 19th Centuries.

Address: Avenida dos Aliados, Porto

Palácio de Cristal & Pavilhão Rosa Mota

The original building gave rise to the current Pavilhão Rosa Mota, the stage of multiple shows. The palace itself is recognized by the name of its beautiful romantic gardens, called Jardins do Palácio de Cristal.  It is a place full of several avenues, woods, and belvederes, where you can contemplate and fall in love for the city of Porto.

Address: Rua de Dom Manuel II 282, 4050-378 Porto

Praça dos Leões

About 10 minutes away from Avenida dos Aliados, we can find the amazing Praça dos Leões, well-known for being a popular hospitable place that hosts the immense students.  Its surroundings are created by the Rectory Building of the University of Porto, the Garden of Cordoaria and also the former Chain of Relation of Oporto, now the Portuguese Center of Photography. This is the main meeting-spot of the local college students, that come from many places around the world!

São Bento Train Station

It dates back to 1893, but the tiles with the historical scenes, that makes this building so famous all over the world, were installed between 1905 and 1906 by a renowned Portuguese artist, Jorge Colaço. Anyone that it’s about to catch a train, that is visiting the city or just arrived in Porto by trains will take a chance to look at this amazing artwork.

Address: Praça Almeida Garrett, 4000-069 Porto

Miguel Bombarda Art Block

This is probably one of the favorite spots of the design lovers tourists. It’s a place that breathes art since there are always new exhibitions turning the street into a dynamic and attractive place. Very well-known for its art galleries and new commercial trends from bookshops, retro alternative clothes or innovative design.

Address: Rua Miguel Bombarda, 4050-522 Porto

Torre dos Clérigos

Considered the biggest tower in the country, the famous “Torre dos Clérigos” stands 75 meters tall. It was built at the beginning of the 18th Century, with a staircase with 240 steps that lead to a balcony with a stunning panoramic view of the city and the Douro river.

Address: Rua São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto

Lello Bookshop

Near Torre dos Clérigos, this is the magic place that inspired J.K. Rowling on writing the Harry Potter saga. Lello Bookshop has been voted as one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world. The 1906’s building has an Art Nouveau façade and Neo-gothic details.

Carmo’s Church

This is one of the most remarkable examples of Baroque architecture. The church was built in the 18th Century. The beauty of the façade covered by a magnificent panel of blue and white tiles represents the Brown Scapular imposition on Mount Carmel.

Address: Praça de Gomes Teixeira 10, 4050-011 Porto