The Crystal Palace Gardens occupy a hillside overlooking the Douro River, defined by a series of themed gardens and free-roaming peacocks. A massive glass and iron pavilion once sat at the center, modeled after the London original for the…
Porto's Terraced Hillsides
This scenic route winds down Porto's steep western hillsides, connecting romantic palace gardens with secluded river overlooks and vertical green spaces that escape the city noise.
Listen to this tour in the Mira app →
1. Jardins do Palácio de Cristal
2. Jardim dos Sentimentos
The Jardim dos Sentimentos sits tucked behind a high stone wall, marked by a rusted iron gate that often remains closed. Inside, the garden centers on a series of stone terraces carved directly into the steep hillside overlooking the Douro…
3. Miradouro Ignez
The Miradouro Ignez sits on a jagged stone platform jutting out over the steep bank of the Douro River. It features a simple wrought iron railing and a solitary, massive stone archway that frames a view of the river traffic below. This…
4. Miradouro Bandeirinha da Saúde
The Miradouro Bandeirinha da Saúde is defined by a low, weathered stone wall that separates the quiet cobblestones of the Escadas da Bandeirinha from the steep drop toward the Douro River. During the plague outbreak of sixteen oh six, the…
5. Parque das Virtudes
Parque das Virtudes clings to the steep hillside of the Miragaia neighborhood in a series of terraced stone gardens. It was once the private garden of the Hospital da Venerável Ordem Terceira de São Francisco, built in the middle of the…
6. Escadas do Caminho Novo
The Escadas do Caminho Novo climb the steep hillside of Porto in a tight, straight line of weathered stone steps. They serve as a vertical shortcut between the riverside and the higher districts, cutting directly through the dense urban…