The double-decker Dom Luis I bridge is an icon of the city of Porto. It spans the River Douro linking the Port wine houses of Vila Nova de Gaia with the bustling downtown Ribeira district of Porto. Construction took place between 1881 and 1886 with the bridge being built adjacent to an existing bridge which it replaced. The granite pillars of the original bridge are still in place, standing on the Ribeira like a pair of gate posts.

Located in downtown Porto, the Carmo and Carmelitas churches look like the biggest church in the city. In fact, they are two churches separated by one of the world’s narrowest houses. This house was built to make all contact between the nuns and the monks impossible. If you look closely, you’ll find Carmo Church (on the right) and Carmelitas Church (on the left).

Livraria Lello & Irmão is a bookshop in the heart of Porto housed in a neo-gothic building from 1906, so exquisitely decorated covered in wood panelling that it will transport you to the nineteenth century. The bookstore has two floors with shelves packed with books of all shapes and sizes covering every wall and touching the ceiling. An elegant wooden and red velvet staircase stands in the middle of the library connecting both floors, while the stained-glass window at the top fills the shop with natural light bringing the room to life.

Clérigos Tower (Torre dos Clérigos in Portuguese) is the tallest campanile in Portugal. It stands 249 ft (76 meters) tall and climbing its 200 steps will give you a privileged view over the city and the river. When you climb up you’ll come across 49 bells which form a large carillon and that can give you quite a fright if you’re in the bell tower when they ring. You’ll see that the effort of climbing all those steps will have been worthwhile once you reach the top and look out from the tower’s observation deck over Porto. This is also a great place to take photos.

São Bento Railway Station in Porto was opened to the public in 1916 on the site of a former Benedictine monastery. The structure emanates the city’s typical melancholy and nostalgic air. Although the train station is striking from outside, the real beauty lies inside. The main hall is breathtaking with over 20,000 tiles that reflect the history of Portugal.

The Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto in Portuguese) is the most important religious edifice in the city and has been declared a National Monument. It is situated in the upper part of Porto. The construction of the Cathedral began during the twelfth century, but it was rebuilt and renovated numerous times throughout the centuries. This explains why the Cathedral is a mix of architectural styles. The temple is predominantly Baroque in style, although its façade and the nave are Romanesque and its cloister and one of the chapels are Gothic in style.

The next stop is a Port wine cellar, where you’ll take a guided tour and learn a little about the wine’s production process. For an additional fee, taste a selection of the city’s finest Port wines before heading back to Lisbon.

Rio Douro translates from Portuguese as the river of gold. With a name like that, we should all join in. It is said the Douro river was given its name because of the golden shimmer of the sun on the water. They were spot on!