Day 8
Our Local Specialist took us sightseeing in Porto, past baroque churches, and along the winding cobblestone lanes that tumble down towards the Douro River. See saw the remarkable bridges that span the river and the Gothic Church of St.Francis. Visited the Stock Exchange Palace with its splendid Arabian Hall inspired by Granada’s Alhambra, we learned the culture of the centuries-old tradition of local port production at a tasting in a port cellar.
Old Town Braga and Bom Jesus Sanctuary – Spent the afternoon with our Local Specialist traveling through the lush green Minho, Portugal’s most northerly province, stopping at its capital, Braga. We saw Europe’s largest and most magnificent sculpted Baroque staircase which ascends the forested hillside to the ‘Bom Jesus’ sanctuary, a UNESCO heritage site. We arrived using a unique 19th-century water-powered funicular. Finally, we walk through Braga’s historic center seeing the life of this ancient and innovative city.