A Whirlwind Day in Porto, Portugal

After disembarking from the Ritz-Carlton yacht in Lisbon (you can read all about that sea adventure [here]), Mark and I had a few days to explore Portugal. And at the top of our list? Porto!

Mark’s friend Shari had recently moved there from California, and I’d heard so many wonderful things about the city. We only had 24 hours—but wow, I instantly fell in love and wished we had more time.

Shari took us on an amazing walking tour, and we covered a lot of ground—19,000 steps! Porto reminded me a little of Florence and Prague, with its winding alleyways, historic charm, and old-town architecture. I especially loved the hidden cafes, the churches tucked into small squares, and all the old doors and windows full of character—my favorite things to sketch when I travel.

And the tiles! Oh my goodness, the tiles. They’re everywhere—in the small cracks along walls, hanging above doorways, and covering entire building facades. I took SO many photos.

Our first stop was the Church of Saint Ildefonso, a striking 18th-century church near Batalha Square. Completed in 1739, it’s built in a proto-Baroque style with a gorgeous facade covered in blue and white azulejo tiles added in 1932.

From there, we found a sunny café on a square where I was so happy to pull out my sketchbook for a quick sketch break.

Just around the corner, we stumbled into a celebration in full swing—an outdoor concert honoring April 25th, Portugal’s Day of Independence. The square was filled with people waving red carnations and singing along to music. It was beautiful and moving to witness.

Of course, no trip to Portugal is complete without trying a Pastel de Nata—a famous Portuguese custard tart. We walked past a popular shop with a line out the door, and Shari asked if I’d ever had one. I hadn’t— and it was absolutely worth the wait! YUM!

After refueling with a pastry (or two), we made our way to a stunning vista point overlooking the Douro River and the city of Gaia. The view was spectacular—colorful buildings along the hills, lots of boats zipping by on the water, and a cable chair lift along the top.

We wandered down cobblestone paths into a lively riverside district filled with happy people, wine shops, cafes, and music. I found a perfect spot with a view, sipped a delicious glass of white wine, and sketched the scene. Pure joy.

Before heading back for a quick rest before dinner, we stopped by the São Bento Train Station—and I’m so glad we did. The tile work inside is jaw-dropping, telling stories in porcelain across the walls.

We ended up eating Italian for dinner, which was delicious and just like in Italy - who needs dessert when you can have homemade limoncello!

I left Porto completely inspired by the colors, the tiles, the old town feel, and history!

I took a ton of photos and sketched a few of my favorite buildings in my Travel Sketchbook.

Travel fills me up in the best ways, and I love capturing those memories in my art.

If exploring beautiful places while filling your sketchbook sounds like your kind of adventure, I’d love for you to join me on one of my upcoming art retreats.

Whether we’re sketching by the sea in California, wandering cobblestone streets in France, or painting under the Mediterranean sun, you’ll experience the joy of creating in community. You can learn more about my upcoming retreats here: https://www.andreagarvey.com/artretreats