This time around, we're doing something truly out of the box! More than a regular tour, we've swapped the city for the countryside and we have also added a fitness challenge! We propose an 11km walk/hike within the municipality of Matosinhos between the 1000-year-old monastery of Leça do Balio on the route to Saint James, then we follow the banks of the Leça downriver, hopping onto this and that the side of the still-present freight-train line connecting Porto to Leixões, (can be an adrenaline rush mind you!) finally following down the trail over medieval bridges, weirs, and watermills, and wrapping up with an impressive view of the docks of Leixões. Along the way, we'll discuss this other "Porto of the hinterlands", away from the Atlantic and away from the Douro, how the Leça once was known as the most polluted river of Europe, and how this little corner of the territory is intrinsically connected to the rest of the city! Important information: Date: Sunday, January, 23rd Time: 11h00 - 16h30 Language: English Price: €10 Meeting point: it will be near the monastery of Leça do Balio, but I need you to drop me a message letting me know you're coming as spots are very limited these days. You can reach out through the email architectoursporto@gmail.com or via Whatsapp +351910430259 It's not a loop track, we'll wrap it up near the harbour of Leixões. I offer to take you to a metro station (Senhor de Matosinhos) or, if you come by car I will bring you back to the start point (by car) at the end of the tour, do let me know! Do wear comfortable walking shoes, boots or robust sneakers. We'll make a brief stop at an off the beaten track Café, for a caffeine rush and services, and, later on, we will have a snack at the Ponte do Carro park to gather up our energy, so bring some nibbles or something to drink! See you then!
