In May, Art Flora visited Porto – one of the oldest cities in Europe, the former capital of Portugal and the current capital of port wine.

Porto is located on the picturesque coast of Costa Verde with wide sandy beaches framed by rocky capes and washed by the powerful waters of the seas.

Scattered all along the coast are traditional fishing towns and villages, as well as pretty beach resorts.

Porto has its own “green lungs” on an area of ​​83 hectares – the City Park, and beautiful romantic gardens – for example, Serralves or the garden at the Crystal Palace, as well as many other small parks.

Squares and open spaces, especially in the city center, are an indispensable part of the urban landscape of the Invincible City.

We want to tell you about some places in Porto.

Corugeira Square

Located in the parish of Campagnan, in the eastern part of the city, the area of Corujeira is famous for its garden, which takes its name from the owls (corujas). The park, which received municipal status in 1993, has branched plane trees and several sports fields. Very close, on Falcan Street, is the Church of Santa Maria de Campañan, built in 1714, looted and destroyed several times in its history, but retaining interesting works of art from the early twentieth century.

Marques de Oliveira Park

In the city, almost everyone knows it as Saint Lazarus Park. Opened in 1834, it became the first public park in Porto. Located near the Faculty of Fine Arts of the University of Porto and the City Public Library of Porto, it is a romantic park with fountains and statues, sprawling trees (especially the magnolias surrounding the lake), as well as various flower beds and a small stage. The original design of this green area has undergone significant changes, but at present it is still the same city park, surrounded by a fence with four gates. It is worth taking a few minutes to the marble fountain, which was brought here directly from the sacristy of the former monastery of Sant Domingos. It is one of the most visited public parks in the city.

Garden of Moreda

A small wooded garden, almost completely covered with grass, where you can see the monument to the merchant. The garden is a passage through Santos Puzada Street, a traffic artery whose name recalls the famous Freemason and Republican.

Cordoaria Garden

The garden, officially known as the “Garden of Juan Chagas”, is a shaded park with several sculptures, one of which is by the famous Spanish sculptor Juan Muñoz. It is located in the heart of the city, next to the hospital, the university and the Clerigos tower. The park is quite small, but it’s the perfect place to take a break from exploring the city.

Crystal Palace Gardens

These elegant and romantic Victorian path gardens boast breathtaking views of the city of Porto, Gaia and the Douro River. There are several themed gardens inside the park. The most remarkable of them was named after the German architect who designed it – Emilio David. Samples of rhododendrons, camellias, ginkgo and other trees are collected here, as well as fountains and statues representing the seasons of the year.

Virtudesh Park

Virtudes Municipal Park, the site of the former Porto Horticultural Company. Designed by José Marques Loureiro (1830-1898), this terraced vertical garden is located in the center of Porto, a few meters from the Clerigos tower. It was purchased in 1965 by the Municipality of Porto and underwent restoration work in 1998. Offers a unique panoramic view of the Porto Customs Building, the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia.

Infanta Henrique Square

On the way from Ribeira to Porto, Piazza Infanta Henrique has a number of attractions. It is on this square in the historic center of the city that the Stock Exchange Palace, the property of the Commercial Association of Porto, the former Ferreira Borges market, where the HardClub hall is located today, the churches of St. Nicholas and St. Francis of Assisi and, of course, the statue of the Infante (Henry the Navigator).