Part III highlights:
1. Monastery of Serra do Pilar
2. Port wine tour and tastings
Above: Walking along Av. D. Afonso Henriques
Above left: Monument of Prince Henry the Navigator in Praca and Jardim do Infante Dom Henrique
Above right: The upper level of Dom Luis I bridge (seen from Gaia)
Above: View of Dom Luis I bridge and the Douro River from the Monastery of Serra do Pilar (Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar) in Gaia
Above right: The fascinating circular church of Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (15th-16th century) ~ take the guided tour to see the Monastery's cloister and church and to climb up to the dome. It's definitely worth the entrance fee of 3 euros per adult; 1.50 euros per student. As the compound is now an active army base, more specifically, the 5th regiment artillery base, the tour up to the dome was carried out by 2 army personnel ~ tres cool!
Above: The circular cloister in Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a former order of St. Augustine
Above left: A mold of the statue of King Afonso I, the first king of Portugal; the statue (made from this mold) is now in Guimaraes; Above right: The climb up to the monastery's dome was led by this soldier
Above right: At the top of the monastery's dome
Above left: View from the dome; Above right: The two soldiers who took us up there
Above right: The army base of the 5th regiment artillery
Above: Inside the circular church of the monastery ~ open during special occasions and to the public on Sundays for Mass from 11 am to noon
Above: I was astounded by this circular-shaped church in the same manner as when I stepped foot in the octagonal-shaped 12th-C Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Torres del Rio (along the Camino Frances); still in active use, I told myself that I had to return on Sunday to experience Mass in this church
Above right: A close-up of the mold of the statue of King Afonso I
Above: Another extraordinary sight is this circular cloister ~ a first for me. Every column was carefully constructed at a 10-degree angle; there are 36 columns in this cloister, which makes this a perfect circle
Above right: All noise was blocked out when I stood in the middle of the cloister (near the fountain); the architects of the monastery designed a circular church and a circular cloister next to it to create a symbol of infinity that is visible from above ~ ingenious
Above left: Gaia cable car ~ it connects the monastery to the Gaia riverfront
Above: Baked salted cod with cream (bacalhau com natas), a Porto specialty (8.50 euros) ~ it was rather tasty
Above left: Free port wine, courtesy of the restaurant where I had lunch; Above right: I proceeded to Kopke next door to sample more port wines (it claimed itself to be the oldest port wine house in town ~ the original building was some distance from this store front)
Above: Inside Kopke port wine house ~ swanky interior
Above left: I ordered a glass of Kopke Vintage 1998 Colheita (harvest) port wine for 4.80 euros (served with 2 chocolates); Above right: The house served me a complimentary glass of 10-year-old white port wine (normally 6.00 euros). A waiter had spilled some wine on the table while serving some guests; so, to apologize for the mess, he offered everyone a free glass of wine ~ splendid! Both wines were really good ~ two thumbs up!!!
Above right: After Kopke, I walked next door to Calem for another port wine tour and tasting; the 5 euros cost included a tour of the warehouse and 2 wine tastings ~ one tawny (woody), the other white
Above right: White and tawny (woody) port wines from Calem ~ by this time, I was ready for a nap
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