The city of Porto sits astride the estuary of the Duoro river, about a two hour train ride north of Lisbon. It is the second largest city in Portugal, and may be best known around the world for its port wine, which is produced upriver in the Duoro valley before being shipped to the many wineries in the Porto’s riverfront area.
The city is stunningly beautiful. When planning my weeklong trip to Portugal, I booked two days in Porto before spending the rest of my time in Lisbon, a ratio I would have swapped with the benefit of hindsight. The historic center of the city, especially the right bank of the Duoro, is simply photography catnip. I only hope the shots I came away with capture some of the magic of the place.
The city has a Mediterranean climate, with plenty of warmth and sunshine that you might expect. But it is also famous for its fog, as the cooler weather of the North Atlantic can swoop in at any time. I was lucky to witness this my first morning in Porto.
The fog began to lift by mid-morning, and the rest of the day became pleasant and mild. I dived into the local lanes and alleys to see what I could find.
As you get closer to the Duoro, the lanes get steeper, and the views open up.
And then, at the river, the city opens up to you.
Porto has some awesome bridges, none more so than the Dom Luís I bridge seen below. If it looks a bit Eiffel-ish to you, that’s not a coincidence: it was built by Théophile Seyrig, a former partner of Eiffel.
T A B U L A R A S A photography 