Medieval Free Tour of Porto: Origins and the Douro River

Duration: 2h and 30min
Languages: English, Spanish, Italian
Guru: Take
Quality Verified Registered on February 19, 2020

Take is a small local company that wants to show its cities to the world. We have a team of talented and passionate guides who want to show you the nooks and crannies, secrets and stories of our unforgettable city. Come and discover Lisbon, Porto, Braga and Guimarães and all the charms and charisma of Portugal. 2018, 2019 & 2020 Certificates of Excellence by TripAdvisor.

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  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Porto was born with the Douro and the history of the city is inseparable from this wonderful river. That's why we created a guided tour that the city has been asking for and deserving for a long time: the Medieval Free Tour of Porto.

From ancestral myths to political games worthy of a TV series,  Medieval Free Tour of Porto  tells the story of a people and its intimate relationship with the Douro and the sea.

In our  Medieval Free Tour of Porto  we will talk about the origins of the city of Porto, the conflicts between bishops and merchants, the centuries of Portuguese expansion around the world, the foundation of the Companhia das Vinhas do Alto Douro, fishing and codfish, Port wine, unlikely legends and unforgettable heroes.
In times gone by the Douro was a brave and stormy river and no less tumultuous is the history of the wonderful Ribeira do Porto and we hope that our Free Tour of the Ribeira will show you this.
Power and trade are part of Porto's genetic code and our Free Tour of the Ribeira begins by recounting this history rich in disputes and quarrels.

From the Cathedral we will descend through the oldest streets of the historic centre, many of them with names closely related to the commercial activities that took place there in medieval times.
When we reach the Largo de São Domingos, leaving the narrow and labyrinthine streets of the Cathedral of Porto, we will talk about one of the most important dates in the history of the city, the day when the long struggle between the clergy and the bourgeoisie came to an end.

Our  Medieval Free Tour of Porto  could not fail to mention another commercial and spiritual relationship, this time the one the Portuguese have with a particular fish, Cod.

The Free Tour of Ribeira will then move on to Miragaia, one of Porto's most typical riverside neighbourhoods.
On its beach, the King's shipyards were located and the Free Tour of Ribeira will take you back in time to remember this important period of Portugal's history.

Near the Museu dos Transportes, the city of Porto opens up to the Douro River and with the river as a witness, the Free Tour of Ribeira will reveal some surprising curiosities about the Douro River and the famous Port Wine.

Do you know which is the rock that contributes most to the richness of the Douro wines? There are answers that only the Free Tour of Ribeira could give you and some of them will surprise you.
And before going up to Praça do Infante, the Medieval Free Tour of Porto  will tell you a curious story of a clandestine wedding in the middle of the Douro River.

At Praça do Infante we will have the opportunity to admire three memorable monuments of the city of Porto: the São Francisco Church, the Stock Exchange Palace and the Ferreira Borges Market. The Gothic church of São Francisco is one of the most beautiful in Porto, with a rich interior of gilded wood carvings.
In the Casa do Infante we will talk about Prince Henry the Navigator, born in the city of Porto, and his relationship with the city.

And back on the banks of the Douro, the  Medieval Free Tour of Porto will take in one of the most controversial figures in Portuguese history, the Marquis of Pombal. Long before roads existed, the Quintas that produced the prized Port wine were only accessible by the untamed and tempestuous Douro River.

No  Medieval Free Tour of Porto could fail to pay homage to the Rabelo Boats and their intrepid crews who daily tore through the rough and treacherous waters of the Douro, laden with barrels of Port Wine.

We will finish our Free Tour of Ribeira near the Dom Luís Bridge.
The  Medieval Free Tour of Porto is much more than a guided tour of the city of Porto. It's a journey into the soul of Porto.

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Terreiro da Sé, 4000 Porto, Portugal
    Terreiro da Sé, 4000 Porto, Portugal
    View on map

    We will be close to the Pelourinho do Porto with our Blue Umbrella.

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Porto Cathedral
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Rua da Bainharia
  • 3
    Outside visit
    Largo São Domingos
  • 4
    Outside visit
    Igreja de São João Novo
  • 5
    Outside visit
    Escadas do Caminho Novo
  • 6
    Outside visit
    Miragaia
  • 7
    Outside visit
    Igreja Paroquial de São Pedro de Miragaia
  • 8
    Outside visit
    Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações
  • 9
    Outside visit
    Rua do Infante Dom Henrique
  • 10
    Outside visit
    São Francisco Church
  • 11
    Outside visit
    Bag Palace
  • 12
    Outside visit
    MUSEU DA CIDADE—Casa do Infante
  • 13
    Outside visit
    Cais da Ribeira
  • 14
    Outside visit
    Postigo do Carvão
  • 15
    Outside visit
    Duque - Homenagem da Cidade
  • 16
    Outside visit
    Bridge of D. Luis

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

75 ratings
4.7
By category
Professionalism
4.69
Fun
4.46
Expression
4.61
Quality
4.67
Route
4.56
Generic
5 stars
58
4 stars
12
3 stars
3
2 stars
2
1 star
0
luciana.morico 01 Dec 2023
Rome

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Dec 2023
Alla scoperta di Porti con una guida, Sara, eccezionale Possiamo solo dire di essere stati molto positivamente sorpresi. Assolutamente da raccomandare
Cinzia 26 Nov 2023

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Nov 2023
Bravissima la guida Maria Molina ! Esperienza meravigliosa ! La consiglio !
Felicitas 18 Nov 2023
Córdoba

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Nov 2023
Todo excelente! Paloma una genia! Un tour diferente 100% recomendable.
Rosa 18 Nov 2023
Porcuna

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Nov 2023
La guía Cristina hizo un tour muy interesante, la tarde se pasó volando con ella. También me gustó mucho la información que nos iba dando.
Lucia 03 Nov 2023
Cologno Al Serio

Verified booking
Travelled in family - Oct 2023
Visita con Sara, guida molto preparata, tanto carina e alla mano! Mostra un'enorme passione per la storia e ha dato utili consigli e suggerimenti! Lucia, Paolo e Flavio
Show 75 reviews

Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
A minimum of 5 people is required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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