At the end of Rua das Flores, a beautiful street in Porto named after the Bishop of Porto’s gardens, there is the 16th century square, Largo de São Domingos. It was here that my friend and I based ourselves on our Porto expedition in 2018. It was her first visit to Porto, and my second, and we couldn’t have found a better place for ourselves in Porto’s historic centre. Not only was our apartment enormous but it was reasonably priced and perfectly located for a weekend break out of season. In the busy months this apartment and the other five in the building might suffer from noise as they directly over look the square with its numerous restaurants and occasional live music as even out of season there is live music.
However the bedrooms are at the back and with the balcony doors shut we hardly noticed it even in the living room. As you will see though I often had the balcony doors open though, as I couldn’t resist venturing out onto the tiny balcony most mornings and evenings!
If you are wondering why they are all squares, it is because it is that time of year for Squares. The quarterly photo blogging challenge on my other blog. You are very welcome to participate, more details here.
The next two photographs are not square however as they were taken on my phone in portrait, and you lose the perspective if I make them square. However I had to include them given what I went through to take them.
Okay I am sure I was safe but it felt like I was risking life and limb when I walked to the end of the balcony. Some of the balconies in Porto do look a bit precarious!
The square’s current name derives from the 13th century convent which was once located here. Most of the convent was destroyed in the Siege of Porto during Portugal’s Civil War in the 19th century and a corner of all that remains, its facade, can be seen in the photographs above. The siege was not the first conflict the square had seen, a riot took place here during the 17th century when the local populace took offence at the government’s plans to raise taxes to pay for the war with Spain. These buildings have had a unique perspective over the years!
Hi Becky, What fun to sit in your apartment and hear the live music. Your pictures are so inviting. I’m glad you had so much fun. 🙂
Thank you so much for visiting all my Portuguese posts 🙂 and you are right it was wonderful here
🙂
That is the reason why I would want that apartment. I love that City kind of life. To be a part of it. To be able to just open the door and be in it. I want that address!! One day….
When you visit let me know and I’ll send you the details!
Would love that!
I liked seeing the same view at different times of day. Very different ‘feels’.
My friend wondered what on earth I was doing as I kept going out onto the balcony!