We left Guimaraes with happy memories of the city and Pousada Sta. Marinha. After another big breakfast, we drove south to Amarante. Amarante is on Rio Tamego and has a beautiful cathedral sitting next to the old bridge. We explored the historic center, which was easily walkable and very pretty. We are fortunate to be in Portugal during spring, with so many blooming flowers and vines.
We got on to the Rota de Romantico and visited a monastery built in the 13th century at Paco de Sousa. We couldn't seem to get on the road we wanted after our visit, so we drove on to Oporto. We easily found our hotel, Palacio de Freixo. The Palacio was built in 1742 and renovated between 2000 and 2003. It is beautiful! The Palacio provides all the public rooms for the hotel, restaurant, reception, etc. The hotel is in an adjoining building, formerly an ancient factory, and also beautifully renovated. We had lunch at the hotel, then took a taxi to the center of Oporto.
We were surprised by Oporto. It is beautiful, with hills similar to San Francisco, and historic cathedrals, homes, train station, and other buildings, from the 10th century and following, that can hold their own with any city in the world. Incredibly beautiful! The churches are filled with gold leaf, women do their wash by hand and hang laundry out the window, the architecture is rich and layered with azulejos in abundance, and the scene along the river at dusk was close to the daily night party in Marrakesh, with live music, dancing, and everyone eating and having a drink together at the end of the day. We took a boat ride along the Duoro River just before sunset, then walked back to the hotel and had a snack of cheese, croissants, and sangria. Life is good!
