Detailed review by Carlos_Andrea
Carlos_Andrea
Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal89%
If you go to Porto there are two mandatory things to do: drink Porto wine and visit Clérigos tower.
Constructed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni this monument was built from 1731 until 1763 (first the church than the tower) and is one of the most important monuments of Porto city.
The tower is the highest Tower in Portugal, with six floor and 76 metres high.
There are four bell openings where the 49 bell concert chime is installed. A computer controls the concert chime, marking the hours and the music by 4 processes. It is programmed to play at 12.00h and 18.00h, and it is linked to an atomic clock in England or Germany, the computer captures the waves transmitted and organises the hours according to these clocks.
A 225 step staircase gives way to the narrow balconies of the last floor (when we are passing through other visitants, we have to shrink the belly or else we get stuck)), from where you can enjoy a magnificent view. Since Porto is a small city, from here you can see all down town. As you leave the staircase, you can see the towers of the Igreja da Lapa; a little to the right, the white towers of the Igreja Senhora da Conceição, at Marquês. A little higher, the towers of Bonfim. Right in front and below, the Town Hall with the nice Praça da Liberdade. Following to the right, you see the old part of Oporto around the Sé Catedral,on the side, the Paço Episcopal and the Igreja dos Grilos; further down, the River Douro and the Port Wine cellars. On the horizon, the Monte da Virgem with the TV and Post Office antennae.
Go to the right south and below you find the Cordoaria Garden, the prison, and the Mosteiro of S. Bento. Further on the Arrábida Bridge. Now the final part, behind you, a closed gate gives way to the top of the tower. Below, you can see the University of Science and to the left, the twin towers of the Churches of Carmo and Carmelitas. Right in front, the Shopping Center of Clérigos (that is now closed).
Visits:
Winter - From 10.00 to 12.00 and 14.00 to 17.00
Summer - From 09.30 to 13.00 and 14.30 to 19.00
August - From 10.00 to 19.00
Price - 2 Euros (We made our visit on May 2008)
Phone - 00351222001729
there isnt much to talk about this monument because there arent words to express the fantastic view of it.
Igreja dos Clérigos10
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