The smallest street in Porto hosts public urban art

The smallest street in town, Afonso Martins Alho street is home to histories, narratives and accounts as old as time. One of such tales is about a merchant from Porto, who gave his name to the street, Afonso Martins Alho, who was so cunning that inspired the old saying "fino como o alho" [smart as a tack, as a whip].

The Afonso Martins Alho Street is a cross street between Rua das Flores and Rua de Mouzinho da Silveira. The street is only 30 metres long, which bestows it the title of "the smallest street in Porto".

Afonso Martins Alho was a merchant from Porto, who in the 14th century was involved in the first commercial treaty signed between England and Portugal.

The fact that he was such a skilled and sharp negotiator led to the popular saying "fino como um alho", meaning "smart as a tack, as a whip".

The street's walls are also the perfect canvas to representing the spirit of the city, a city that is always in motion, and what better way to illustrate this than using the image of a cat, an animal that is not behind when it comes to cleverness, smartness and intelligence.

Galician artist Liqen is the author of the "Perspéntico" mural painting, promoted by the municipal company PortoLazer, in the context of the Urban Art Programme of Porto.