'The New York Times' suggests a tour of Porto

Historic streets, old churches, seafood-rich cuisine, and proximity to beaches are some of the reasons given by 'The New York Times' newspaper to visit Porto. The American daily created a 36-hour itinerary choosing some of the best places to enjoy at the Invicta.

The city, which 'doubled the number of tourists over the last decade', has witnessed a 'modernisation or expansion of museums, art centres, food markets, food courts and hotels', 'The New York Times' analyses, outlining a 36-hour tourist itinerary in which you can get to know and enjoy Invicta's main assets.

Among the four places chosen as must-sees is the 'renovated Mercado do Bolhão', where the daily newspaper suggests trying some of Portugal's main delicacies, such as wine or pastéis de nata (custard cream pies).

The Serralves Museum is also on the newspaper's list, which recommends a visit to the recently inaugurated Siza Vieira wing at the Serralves Foundation.

'Theme park for epicureans'

When it comes to food and beverage, the must-sees list includes several places, most notably the World of Wine, described as 'a theme park for epicureans', as well as the restaurant 'A Cozinha das Flores', located in the heart of the Baixa downtown area.

On the other hand, the list of main attractions is topped by the Jardins do Palácio de Cristal gardens, where you can 'contemplate the bridges of the Douro River' to the sound of 'the cries of the peacocks that inhabit the place', the newspaper mentions.

In the city centre, the daily newspaper selects the Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls) – due to its tiles 'with biblical scenes', the church of Santo Ildefonso, the church of São Francisco – which 'is dazzling with its gilded woodwork', the Batalha Cinema, the Café Majestic coffee shop, and the Pérola do Bolhão as points of interest.

The tour, which starts late Friday and finishes at noon on Sunday, is just a sample of why 'the whole world has fallen in love with Porto', 'The New York Times' emphasises.