Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
last remains of the
townwall.
Climb the steps to the tower for fine views of the river and
Ribeira district (careful, steps are steep and there are no handrails). Go back through the
square to the bottom of Rua da Augusto Rosa and the top of the
funicular
(Elevador dos
Guindais), which zips down to the Ribeira riverfront. Hike two blocks up Rua da Augusto
Rosa to Praça da Batalha (described below) and the start of the shopping district.
Porto's bustling, local-feeling shopping district is a wonderful place to people-watch.
Most of the action is along Rua de Santa Catarina, which runs roughly parallel to Avenida
dos Aliados a few blocks east. Begin at Praça da Batalha (just up Rua 31 de Janeiro from
São Bento Station), and follow this route to the Old World market hall.
Praça da Batalha (Battle Square)
—This square has a fine tiled church, the Igreja de
Santo Ildefonso (its
azulejo
tiles, reminiscent of Ming dynasty blue-and-white ceramics,
were all the rage in Baroque Portugal, depicting scenes from the life of the church's pat-
ron saint), the 19th-century National Theater (originally the Opera House), and the im-
pressive Art Deco Cinema Batalha, now closed. This square, with its inviting benches, is
where the old guys hang out.
