PARQUE DA CIDADE

Since its creation in 1993, it has gradually grown into 83 hectares of land which extends 1.5km (a mile) from the Avenida da Boavista in the South East right to the Forte de São Francisco Xavier (Cheese Castle) and seafront on the Eastern edge. Within the park's boundaries there are 10km of walking and cycling paths, where locals and visitors alike come to unwind, picnic, play ball games, jog, cycle or, just simply, chill out. Incorporated within the green spaces are fountains, water features, lakes, wooded areas and even a small farm. Facilities include public conveniences, a restaurant, craft shop, sports grounds, the Sealife Porto and the Pavilhão da Água (Water Pavilion). There's plenty of parking found on the northern entrance off the Estrada da Circunvalação and on the Avenida da Boavista entrance in the southern entrance.

Pavilhão da Água (Water Pavilion)

This futuristic-looking building was designed by the architect Alexandre Burmeister for Expo 98 at the Parque das Nações, Lisbon and was one of the most visited exhibits. Expo 98 had a theme that reflected Portugal's relationship, both past and present, with the ocean. Pavilhão da Água was sponsored by Unicer - Bebidas de Portugal (now the Superbock Group) and held an exhibition titled “The Oceans, a Heritage for the Future”. Following the end of the Expo, the building was moved to Porto and installed by the north entrance of the Parque da Cidade. It reopened its doors to the public on 28th December 2002, as an interactive space for scientific and technological subjects around the theme of water resources.

Getting to the Parque da Cidade