Lomography

Avenida dos Aliados
written by paper_doll on February 16th, 2009 , 11 comments (6 votes)

Please activate JavaScript to see this gallery.

The imposing Avenida dos Aliados (Allies Avenue) is the heart of the city (Porto), a beautiful boulevard lined with grand buildings and a central promenade. It runs from the Town Hall on the north to the busy Praça da Liberdade (Liberty or Freedom Square) on the south.

The Town Hall, at the top of the avenue, is a palatial building with a tall bell tower (70m high). Made of granite and marble, its design was influenced by municipal architecture of Flanders and France. In the Avenida dos Aliados there is a fountain called Juventude (Youth… So yes, it’s the fountain of youth!) and a sculpture called Os Meninos (The Boys). At the other end of the avenue is Praça da Liberdade, a square adorned with a statue of King Pedro IV riding a horse and holding the Constitution that he had fought to protect during the Liberal Wars.

There are several hotels down the avenue, as well as cafes. The most famous of all is Guarany (www.cafeguarany.com). You can sit at one of the tables on the pavement outside to watch the world go by or sit inside at night and listen to a Fado singer!