AVENIDA DOS ALIADOS

There is a Parisian feel about the Avenida dos Aliados due mainly to the French Neoclassical-styled buildings that line its perimeter. Aliados is a remnant of Porto's bourgeois past. Along with banks and luxury hotels, top restaurants (including the historical Guarany) are located here. Avenida dos Aliados meaning "Avenue of the Allies", is a dedication to the victorious Allied Nations from the First World War, in which Portugal participated.

Originally the central promenade was grassed over and landscaped, but in 2005 it was remodelled by renowned architects Siza Vieira and Souto de Moura. Taking advantage of a huge hole formed by the construction of a new metro station, Avenida dos Aliados was concreted. This allowed traffic to flow through it and provided central Porto with a space to hots large public events. In May 2010, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated mass here with about 150 thousand people.

The old tram #22 cuts through Avenida dos Aliados. Its anti-clockwise route can be joined at the lower end by the InterContinental Porto - Palacio Das Cardosas hotel, heading towards Batalha. Halfway up the avenue, close to the Hotel Aliados, the tram heads towards Carmo. Timetable

Overlooking the Praça General Humberto Delgado, at the northern end of the Avenida dos Aliados, is the mighty seventy metre tall carillon clock tower on top of the city hall building. Constructed from granite and marble in the French style. Construction began in 1920 and took thirty years to complete. The building consists of six floors, a basement and two courtyards. Its finely furnished rooms are still used today for state functions, formal events, weddings and council meetings.

You are allowed entry on the 1st Sunday of each month. Visits must be booked in advance; see contact details below. Once in the entrance hall and central stairway, marvel at the romantic-style paintings decorating the ceiling and the murals on the walls. If you're feeling fit you can climb the clocktower's 180 steps, the view from the top rival those from the Clerigos Tower.

Standing in the square directly in front of the City Hall is a statue of Portuguese writer Almeida Garrett looking skyward created by Salvador Barata Feyo.

Visits: First Sunday each month
Entrance: €2.10
Praça do General Humberto Delgado, 4049-001 Porto, Portugal
41º 09' 00.3" N | 08º 36' 38.5" W | +351 222 090 400
gabinete.municipe@cm-porto.pt |  Website

Located below the Aliados Hotel, this famous establishment first opened its doors in 1933. The interior was designed by the architect Rogério de Azevedo. The sculptor Henrique Moreira was employed to carve the marble decorations including a South American "Guarany" Indian. It represents Brazil where the beans for their renowned coffee originated from. This tropical theme is in fact seen throughout the interior. Two impressive canvases by the painter Graça de Morais called “The Lords of the Amazon” hang on a wall depicting the daily life of the Guarany tribe.

Guarany was known as the "musicians coffee shop", it's known for its live performances by local artists and from its own resident orchestra. The café obtained a somewhat Bohemian ambience and today hosts Fado evenings on Thursdays and Saturdays. To take a meal or a coffee here is to experience the Avenida dos Aliados in its heyday and the seating outside are ideally placed for day-time people watching.

Daily 09h00 - 24h00
85/89 Avenida dos Aliados, 4000-066, Porto, Portugal. | 41° 08' 51.8" N | 08° 36' 41.1" W
+351 223 321 272 | guarany@mail.telepac.pt |  Website

Statue of King Pedro IV

At the lower end of the avenue is the Praça da Liberdade. A square dominated by a statue of a mounted King Pedro IV. It took the French sculptor Anatole Calmels four years to complete and was inaugurated on 19th October 1866. The statue consists of Pedro IV riding his horse holding the Constitution, which he had fought to protect during the Liberal Wars.

Ardina - The Newspaper Vendor Statue

Look out for a curious life-sized bronze statue of an "Ardina" (newspaper seller) leaning up against a traditional red postbox in the Southeast corner of the square. The work is a tribute to Manuel Dias and is dedicated to the low-paid newspaper sellers who once were a common sight close to the former headquarters of the O Comércio do Porto daily paper. Since its inauguration in 1990, the statue has survived many collisions by careless drivers and underwent major repair in 2004.

Café Imperial - McDonalds

Often cited as the most beautiful McDonald's in the world, the branch in Avenida dos Aliados is located within the former Café Imperial. At the entrance, straddled above McDonald's Helvetica logo, is the original giant bronze eagle by Portuguese sculptor Henrique Moreira. Apart from the removal of a large rotating door, much of the frontage of the building remains as it was when Café Imperial first opened in 1936.

Those not gazing at the illuminated food menu would be aghast by the huge stained glass wall behind the counter. The ceiling retains the original ornate plasterwork from which crystal chandeliers hang. When McDonald's took over the crumbling old çafé in the 90's they restored the building, maintaining and accentuating its original features. The place can get very busy and taking photos inside can be a challenge. As for the food and service… well it's McDonald's. I would say the breakfast menu of Portuguese McDonalds is pretty good as it contains more variation of meals and coffees than in the UK or US.

Daily 08h00 - 02h00
Praça da Liberdade 126, 4000-322 Porto, Portugal. | 41° 08' 48.1" N | 08° 36' 38.8" W
+351 222 013 248 |  Website