Rua das Flores, Porto, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

Rua das Flores is a pedestrian street in the old town of Porto, Portugal, lined with noble townhouses from the 17th to 19th centuries. It is one of the most fashionable streets in the historic centre, and a good place to see how the city's wealthy families lived.

The story behind it

The street dates back to the early 16th century, and its name, Street of Flowers, is traditionally linked to the many gardens and flowers that residents kept on their verandas. In time aristocratic families settled here, and many facades still carry the coats of arms of the noblemen who built them. Together they make a fine row of civil architecture from the 17th to 19th centuries.

The street also has a darker chapter. In the 19th century it was tied to a notorious crime, when a physician named Urbino de Freitas was accused of poisoning a relative with almonds. The case was a sensation in its day and is still told on walks through the area.

What to look for

• Look up at the facades for carved stone coats of arms, the marks of the noble families who once lived here.
• Notice the verandas and balconies, and imagine them filled with the plants that gave the street its name.
• Find the former Ourivesaria Alliança goldsmith building, which keeps touches of gold leaf and ornate Belle Époque patterns.
• Take in the mix of old stone houses and newer shops and cafés, which shows how the street keeps reinventing itself.

Tips for your visit

• Allow 20 to 30 minutes for the street itself, longer if you stop at a café or browse the shops.
• Go in the morning or late afternoon for softer light on the facades and fewer people.
• The street is pedestrian, so it is easy to explore on foot, and it sits in the middle of the historic centre with many other sights close by.
• Most of the interest is on the outside of the buildings. Check current opening hours if you want to enter a shop or café.

See it on a quest

The quest Porto’s Old Town: Amazing Secrets and Fresh Scoops passes through Rua das Flores as one stop on a longer route through the old town. You walk there on foot, the app tells you about the street as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group.