Hey there! My name is Isabella, and I am here to share with you about Porto, Portugal!
In this blog I will be telling you a little bit about my time and experience of living here in Porto, as well as telling you about the culture and lifestyle here. I have been in Portugal for twelve years, and I can honestly say that it has been a wonderful and interesting experience being here. I am excited to tell you all about it and all about this wonderful city of Porto!
First, I want to tell you how thrilled I am to be working with Falesia Consultants. Falesia Jovial Consultants is a business which seeks to help students from all over the world to study in many amazing countries which include not just Portugal, but also France, Germany, Malta, and even Grenada (a tropical island which is near the Caribbean).
I joined Falesia Jovial Consultants because I admire how they want to help those who desire to study in a different country. They will provide you with all of the information you may need in order to study abroad.
I originally moved to Portugal in August of 2011 when I was almost ten years old. For the first year that I was here in Portugal I lived in the south, also called the Algarve. The Algarve is known for its warm beaches, sunny weather, and touristic lifestyle. After living there for a year, I moved up north to Porto in 2012 and I have been here ever since. Contrary to the Algarve´s relaxed and calming environment, the city of Porto is bustling with activity. Every year not only are more and more tourists coming to visit, but many people are now moving to live and even study here.
One of the things that Porto is most well known for is its bridge, Dom Luis I. Something that many people do not know about this famous bridge which connects Gaia (Porto´s “little brother”, so to speak) with the city of Porto itself, is that it was built by Société Willebroeck. Société Willebroeck was the apprentice of Gustave Effiel, the man who built the Eiffel Tower.
Another famous landmark of Porto´s is the Torre dos Clérigos. The Torre dos Clérigosis is a 75 meter (246 foot) tower which overlooks the city of Porto and is close to its center. Built in 1754, and completed in 1763, the Torre dos Clérigos is connected to a church (Igreja dos Clérigos) and consists of 240 steps which will take you to the very top. There at the top not only will you find a large, cracked bell, but you will also have a great view of the city.
Besides having amazing architecture, Porto also has an amazing and vibrant culture. One of the best things about Porto is that almost everyone here understands and speaks English, especially the youth. Knowing English, whether understanding it or speaking it, is a big part of the culture here in Porto. Almost everything here can be found in English; the movies, books, and university classes all have English options!. The people here are friendly and are very quick to help you should you ever find yourself needing assistance. Whether it be with directions or something else entirely, you will always find someone willing to lend you a helping hand.
Another great thing about Porto is its lively night time culture. Whereas in some countries the malls and restaurants close early, here in Porto they are open until almost midnight! One of the things that surprised me the most about Porto is how late people stay out til. It is not just the teens and young adults who stay out until midnight, but there are also families with young children who are out at this time, even on school nights!
Porto is an amazing, tourist friendly city which offers a variety of activities to do and places to see. With its friendly inhabitants and its lively culture, you will feel comfortable should you choose to come and visit, or even live here!
Thank you for reading this blog! I hope that you found it not just interesting but most importantly helpful. Just know that Falesia Jovial Consultants is always here to help you.
Until next time!
–Isabella Harding
wow! Very well written and informative!