Boavista is a residential district of Porto offering a lot also to tourists. The words “boa vista” literally mean a good view and are used by Portuguese to name some geographic locations. You can find another “Boa Vista” in Cape Verde, being the name of one of the Cape Verdean islands, or in Brazil, being the capital of a Brazilian state Roraima. But back to Porto, you will definitely have a “boa vista” in Boavista area 🙂 Below I have gathered some places you should not miss while visiting this location.
- Casa da Música – This concert hall opened in 2005 is a dominant of Boavista. It was designed by a Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas. The building is shaped as a nine-floor-high asymmetrical polyhedron covered in plaques of white cement, cut by large glass windows. I suggest definitely visiting it also from inside, either on concert, or as an individual/guided visit. You will be amazed by the beauty of different concert rooms, especially by the iconic “Sala VIP” covered in white and blue tiles “azulejos”. New York Times wrote about the project: “a building whose intellectual ardor is matched by its sensual beauty” and we cannot disagree.
- Parque de Serralves – Serralves is a cultural institution including a contemporary art museum, a park, and a villa. The entry is paid, but definitely worth the money.
- Mercado Bom Sucesso – Mercado Bom Sucesso is a bright, indoor, modern market offering local food. It was renovated in 2021 to introduce a new trendier concept of several small restaurants, shops and stalls where you can buy the local fresh food, drinks, pastries and other products.
- Rotunda da Boavista – This roundabout called by locals as “Rotunda da Boavista” officially known as the Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque honors Joaquim Augusto Mouzinho de Albuquerque, a Portuguese soldier who fought in Africa during the 19th century. You can find here a lot of greenery and his statute.
- Cemitério de Agramonte – While normally cemeteries are not on my bucket list, this one is definitely worth a visit. It was built in 1855 to hold the victims of a cholera epidemic. Later it was extended and a chapel was built within the cemetery. The cemetery is also a resting place of some of the eminent Portuguese figures, such as António Carneiro.
- Sinagoga Kadoorie – The Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue, also known as the Porto Synagogue is a synagogue of the Jewish community of Porto and it is also the largest synagogue on the Iberian Peninsula and one of the largest in Europe. This architectural monument is one of the most extraordinary houses of Jewish worship in the world and is also the headquarters of the Israeli Community of Porto. The Porto Synagogue is only open for religious ceremonies and community activities of its members, however you can admire its beauty from outside.
- Estádio do Bessa – Although the main stadium of located Porto is Estádio do Dragão of F.C. Porto, the second most successful football club in Porto is F.C. Boavista with its sanctuary Bessa Stadium. You can visit it either during a match, or buy a guided tour to its museum and stadium.
- Restaurants – Last but not least, Boavista is also a home to many traditional and also modern restaurants. Visit for example the traditional Tasca da Badalhoca being one of the oldest taverns in Porto famous for its dry cured ham sandwiches “sandes de presunto”. Take a brunch in a modern Negra Café Boavista, or LEA – Food & Drinks. Try sushi in one of the best sushi restaurants in Porto, Sushimia Boavista, or check the vegetarian restaurant Espécie – Restaurante Vegetariano. If still not enough, try more modern Goela or a Vietnamese OLÁ VIETNAM RESTAURANT.
