Viewpoints in Porto
Roads and squares
Miradouros are defined as high points with a wide horizon. They are synonymous with other nouns such as Mirante or Belveder, the latter from the Italian belvedere. They all designate an elevated terrace, a high point from which a wide horizon can be seen.
These definitions clarify the nature of belvederes, which can be natural, such as a mountain, or artificial, such as towers, bridges, buildings, etc. as can be seen in the case of the city of Porto with its natural belvederes, marked by the rugged topography of the terrain, and the artificial ones that result from the construction of civil and religious buildings and infrastructures such as bridges.
The city of Porto develops from two centres that correspond to two elevations - the hill of Sé, where the first settlements were established, and the hill of Vitória. From these two centres, the entire urban network develops, expanding along the cliffs to the River Douro, a circumstance that gives rise to a very peculiar built landscape from which several panoramic views of the River Douro and the city itself open up.
From the hills of Sé and Vitória, from the terraces, towers and bridges that overlook the city, the view reaches unmissable scenery and unique panoramas immortalised by writers, chroniclers, painters, poets and photographers.
Visit the Natural Viewpoints:
- College of Orphans
- Fontaínhas
- Serra do Pilar
- Terreiro da Sé
- College Square
- Church of Our Lady of Victory
- Passeio das Virtudes
- Restoration
- Crystal Palace Gardens
- Quinta da Macieirinha
- Panoramic Way
- Chapel of Santa Catarina and Senhora dos Anjos
- Pergola
- Pier
See the city from higher points:
- Fernandina Wall - Guindais
- Guindais funicular
- D. Luís I Bridge
- Lada Lift (Ribeira)
- Town Hall Tower
- Clérigos Tower
- Fernandina Wall - New Way
- Arrábida Bridge
- St Francis Xavier Fort (Castelo do Queijo)
- Tower of the Church of Senhora da Conceição
These definitions clarify the nature of belvederes, which can be natural, such as a mountain, or artificial, such as towers, bridges, buildings, etc. as can be seen in the case of the city of Porto with its natural belvederes, marked by the rugged topography of the terrain, and the artificial ones that result from the construction of civil and religious buildings and infrastructures such as bridges.
The city of Porto develops from two centres that correspond to two elevations - the hill of Sé, where the first settlements were established, and the hill of Vitória. From these two centres, the entire urban network develops, expanding along the cliffs to the River Douro, a circumstance that gives rise to a very peculiar built landscape from which several panoramic views of the River Douro and the city itself open up.
From the hills of Sé and Vitória, from the terraces, towers and bridges that overlook the city, the view reaches unmissable scenery and unique panoramas immortalised by writers, chroniclers, painters, poets and photographers.
Visit the Natural Viewpoints:
- College of Orphans
- Fontaínhas
- Serra do Pilar
- Terreiro da Sé
- College Square
- Church of Our Lady of Victory
- Passeio das Virtudes
- Restoration
- Crystal Palace Gardens
- Quinta da Macieirinha
- Panoramic Way
- Chapel of Santa Catarina and Senhora dos Anjos
- Pergola
- Pier
See the city from higher points:
- Fernandina Wall - Guindais
- Guindais funicular
- D. Luís I Bridge
- Lada Lift (Ribeira)
- Town Hall Tower
- Clérigos Tower
- Fernandina Wall - New Way
- Arrábida Bridge
- St Francis Xavier Fort (Castelo do Queijo)
- Tower of the Church of Senhora da Conceição
