São Bento Railway Station
A must-see while in Porto is the São Bento Railway Station. More than just a train station, this place is another architectural jewel, among the many others this city boasts.
Built by the Portuguese architect José Marques da Silva in 1900, the São Bento Railway Station opened to the public sixteen years later. Its construction took place on the site that once housed a Benedictine monastery, hence the name São Bento.
The architecture has a French Renaissance influence, and even though its facade is already quite impressive, its interior is what leaves visitors truly awestruck. The main hall is beautifully decorated–from the ground to the ceiling — with more than 20,000 "azulejos" (Portuguese tiles), which recount important events of the history of Portugal.
Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art
If modern art is your scene, don't miss this museum, which hosts some of the best works by contemporary Portuguese painters and sculptors, as well as pieces from internationally-known artists such as Warhol and Pollock. The building also offers a library, a book shop, a tea house, a restaurant, and an auditorium bar. The opening hours may differ from those of the museum itself and according to the season.
Stock Exchange Palace
Built between 1842 and 1870 on the former site of a Franciscan convent, The Stock Exchange Palace, or Palácio da Bolsa, is an impressive building in Neoclassical style, which currently houses the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association.
Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the Palácio da Bolsa attracts around 200,000 visitors a year, making it the most visited monument in the north of Portugal.
Take a guided tour to see up close its magnificently decorated rooms, especially the Arab Room, which features the exotic Moorish Revival architecture. This room also serves as a reception hall for heads of state and personalities visiting the city.
Nova Sintra Park (Parque das Águas)
Currently the headquarters of the municipal company Águas do Porto, hence its second name Parque das Águas (Water Park), the Nova Sintra Park is one of the largest green spaces in Porto, boasting great botanical diversity, dense trees, as well as a peaceful atmosphere--a nice place to relax and take a break by one of its many fountains.
