Porto, Portugal – Last Day

On our last day in Porto, we saw the Lello Bookstore, the Old Stock Exchange and took the funicular up to the upper portion of the Luis I Bridge and rode the gondola back down to the Vila Nuova de Gaia.

Lello Bookstore

After an early start we climbed our way back up to the Miragaia, not only for breakfast, but to stand in line to see the inside of a bookstore.

Palácio da Bolsa

The Palácio da Bolsa, the Stock Exchange Palace or Euronext Lisbon, used to house the stock exchange for Portugal. Now, only certain members of the administration have offices here, and hence, it is required to have guided tours.

The tour only lasts for about thirty minutes and you learn of the many former leaders and functions of the palace. It is an active building and holds many events internally, including operettas for small crowds.

Of particular note is the reception room where the wealth of the stock exchange and Portugal was to promote and entice investors. The walls are festooned with non-sensical Arabic symbols denoting the rooms secular monetary cause.

Six Bridges Cruise

There are several lines that promote a voyage to see the six bridges along the River Duoro in the area. The problem is, it is actually only five bridges and one viaduct, so don’t be surprised if your counting is minus one. However, we found it a good fifty minute excursion along the waterway and rather relaxing, if not totally uneventful.