Street art is the best way to experience a city’s pulse without stepping foot inside of a museum. I visited Porto, Portugal back in September for the Travel Bloggers Unite conference and was impressed at the display of public artworks next to hundred-year-old buildings. The one above was located down the street from Gallery Hostel, where I stayed for my week in Porto.
Porto street art is influenced by the painted roosters and pottery you see in every shop window. I loved the vibrant colors of this one next to the gritty concrete, which was also located near my hostel. It reminds me of the Russian nesting dolls my grandmother brought me from one of her trips.
On my final afternoon in Porto I took a free walking tour with fellow hostel mates and bloggers for the best views of the city. One of Gallery’s employees guided us through the winding cobblestone streets of the city. It was here, next to a derelict building, that I found my favorite view of Porto and the street art you see here.
The above photo looks like a cranky Charlie Chaplin and a duck. The best thing about finding street art in Porto is that you don’t need to head to a specific place, but rather wander. I even saw plenty on the tram in from the airport. Search “Porto street art” for even more amazing works of art found by fellow travelers. Where is your favorite place to see street art?
For more on my favorite street art, read about my experiences with a Banksy exhibit at Sydney’s Cockatoo Island, Berlin’s East Side Gallery and my Pinterest board dedicated to Street Art Around the World!
I stayed several days in Porto when I visited Portgual in 2007 but I never saw any of the street art. I do think it’s a lovely city, by the way.