Portugal>Porto>Porto's Art and Soul: The art-loving route
City exploration game

Porto's Art and Soul: The art-loving route

Porto's Art and Soul: The art-loving route image 1
Play at your pace · usually 89 min 5.1 km Porto App-guided
Play in
English

The experience

About this quest

Before having his name linked to a House Museum, Fernando de Castro grew up as the son of a merchant whose shop at the end of Rua das Flores sold wallpaper, mirrors, crystal and glassware, and represented the French company Saint Gobain, created to help decorate Versailles.

During his youth, Fernando worked professionally in the family business and witnessed periods of intense change in the history of Portugal. He saw the fall of the monarchy and the rise of the republic, the First World War and the first decades of the dictatorship. Especially during this last period, many medieval buildings were stripped of their gilded woodwork and many artefacts of artistic and religious value.

Possibly Fernando, the collector, poet, caricaturist and designer, was the result of these changes and shaped his habits and tastes by their impact on his life. As a lover of art and culture, he visited art dealers and antique shops, transforming his home, where he lived between the late 19th century and the first half of the following century, into a living work of art.

Between the sacred and the profane, this is one of Porto's best-hidden gems!

Is this for you?

Who it's for

Art lovers, gallery-goers and friends or couples who already know the Ribeira get a 5.2 km walk past the Soares dos Reis museum and the Miguel Bombarda galleries to Fernando de Castro's house museum, with the story of a merchant's son who saw monarchy, republic and dictatorship. Allow 2.5 to 3 hours. Anyone after a quick stroll or a tour of street murals should pick something shorter.

What makes this quest special

Highlights

    You are going to discover about some aspects of the art scene of Porto, like the first Portuguese National Museum, the street Galleries of Miguel Bombarda, the reforms of the dictatorship and the house museum of one of the most peculiar person in Porto.

From your phone to the streets

A walk that turns into an adventure.

  1. 1

    Open the app. You’re on your way.

    Choose your pass, then open your quest in the Questo app. It guides you from the starting point.

  2. 2

    Get outside. Follow your curiosity.

    Discover real places and their stories on foot. Stop for a coffee or a photo, then pick up where you left off.

  3. 3

    Crack a clue. Share a little victory.

    Look around for answers, solve puzzles and enjoy the “we got it!” moments.

Your walk, at a glance

Porto

A · Start

R. de Dom Manuel II, 4050-346 Porto, Portugal

B · Finish

Rua de Costa Cabral 716, 4200-211 Porto, Portugal

Get directions to the start

Start and finish only. Discover the stops as you play.

The people behind the adventure

Created by Porto Secret Spots.

A route that brings places and playful storytelling together.

Made by Porto Secret Spots

A little clarity before you go

Frequently asked questions

Is this a self-guided street art tour of Porto?
It is a self-guided art walk played on your phone. It focuses on Porto's art spaces rather than murals: the National Museum of Soares dos Reis, the street galleries of Miguel Bombarda, the Salão 'Silva Porto' and the House Museum of Fernando de Castro. Each stop comes with its story and a puzzle.
Where does the walk start and finish?
It starts at the Portuguese Colonial Exhibition stop and finishes at the House Museum of Fernando de Castro, so it does not end where it began. In between you pass Republic Square, the primitive chapel of the Virgin of Lapa, Foot-Ball Club do Porto and Marquês Square.
How long does it take and how far is it?
The route covers 5.2 km, and most players take about 2.5 to 3 hours, walking and puzzles included. You do not have to do it in one go: you can pause the quest and continue later from where you stopped.
Is it free, and do we need to book a time?
It is free to play. There is no group to join, no guide and no time slot to book, so you can start whenever suits you, on your own or with friends walking together.

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Your next story starts outside.

Your next adventure is an app away.

Get the Questo app. Pick a quest, follow the clues and make the city your playground.

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