Discover Foz do Douro, a cool area in Porto!
On this series of posts, we’ll tell you a little bit about each of the neighborhoods (in Portuguese, «freguesias») in the central area of Porto. Besides some historical facts, we will show you places you can visit and where to have a great meal in all these areas! Today, we will share tips on the coolest neighborhood in the city: Foz do Douro!
At first, Foz do Douro was a village, a place where rich people from the city went for the summer. In the 19th century, Foz became a neighborhood of Porto. Differently than Sé, which we talked about on this post, Foz was not much populated before: around 3000 people lived there back in the 1860’s. Nowadays, approximately 10.000 people live in the Foz area. The neighborhood is divided into Foz Venha (Old Foz), which still resembles an old fisherman’s village, and a more posh area, with fancy houses and apartments. Foz neighborhood has around 150 streets and some nice monuments are located there, like the fortress São João Baptista:
Places of interest at Foz do Douro
Serralves Museum: This is a must-visit place in Porto! Serralves is the most important museum of contemporary art in the country. It is located in an amazing building, designed by Álvaro Siza, and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Besides, the museum has a great bookshop, restaurant, and cafe. You can spend a whole day there! Check their website for more information.
Passeio Alegre: Another great option to check in Foz is Passeio Alegre, a beautiful public garden located very near where the river meets the ocean. On weekends, street markets and live concerts bring life to the area. Take tram #1 at Ribeira, follow the Douro river and arrive at Passeio Alegre! From there, is very easy to explore Foz.
Cafeína and Pedro Lemos: Once in Foz, spoil yourself with fancy meals! Cafeína is a great option, where chef Vasco Mourão offers the best of international cuisine (beef wellington and duck magret, for example). Pedro Lemos, another famous Portuguese chef, opened its restaurant at Foz in 2009 and, in 2014, was awarded a Michelin star! His tasting menu is made with seasonal and organic food, and the wine selection is outstanding!
And remember: If you want to discover Porto and explore its neighborhoods in the company of a local guide, book your private tour with AtWill! We will be happy to share «our» Porto with you!
