Porto Photo Gallery - Gaia's Riverfront & Ponte Dom Luis I Lower Deck

Opting for some exercise after a gratifying lunch, I walked downhill (#7) towards the waterfront instead of taking the cable car. Visitors would normally come to this part of the city for its wineries, some of which are open to the public for visits and tasting. Cars run along the Dom Luis I Bridge's lower deck, although there is also a pedestrian path with far less spectacular views than the upper deck. However, the Ribeira is far easier to access from here than from the metro deck. The D Maria II Bridge once spanned across the Douro, taking 2 years to build in the 1840s. Its working life ended in 1887 when the Dom Luis I Bridge opened next door, and only a few pillars remain, with a little cafe making use of the space overlooking the river. At the end of this walk, I arrived back in Ribeira.