A symbol of progress
'PROGREDIOR' was deliberately written over the front doors of the first grand Exhibition hall of Porto, the 'PALÁCIO DE CRISTAL' - the word 'progredior' means 'progress' in Latin and it was deeply symbolic. In the mid 1800s, Portugal, and in particular the city of Porto, were trying hard to catch up with Europe and US's industrial revolution and, at the same time, going through a period of intense... romanticism!
The merchants and industrials of Porto were bohemian, wealthy and seeking class and personal affirmation. A small group of Industrials - an association called AIP - decided it was time for Porto to have a grand exhibition hall, one that could host trade shows, large scale festivals, huge banquets, a space worthy of the the rising bourgeoisie of Porto... all of this surrounded by these 'staged' romantic gardens filled with exotic trees and wandering peacocks, fake ruins, fountains and small lakes, classical looking statues: a dignified space for poets and artists looking for inspiration or for those merely looking for romance, during those long lazy Sunday walks... wearing their best Sunday outfits...! Exploring the city park and the waterfront of Porto As a tourist I visited many cities in Europe and in some I opted for a bicycle tour on the first day of my stay. This is such a wonderful way to have a solid overview of more than just the historic centre and escape the busy tourist attractions during the day. It is also a way to share an active day or half-day with your partner, family or friends, especially those who are not into running - or not willing to take you up on that 7AM sunrise running tour you had in mind...! In the next lines I will pinpoint a few reasons why a bicycle tour + (maybe) a running tour + the city of Porto are actually the perfect combination! |
AuthorSérgio is the founder of Porto Running Tours, a keen runner since 1999 and a friendly running tour guide-storyteller since 2015. 
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Porto Running Tours is a locally owned micro-business,
providing authentic running experiences in Porto since 2015
providing authentic running experiences in Porto since 2015
We practice sustainable tourism. Book directly with us!
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customer love on Tripadvisor > Take their word for it:
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I am training for a half marathon and was worried when I realized that my (scheduled) longest training run coincided with my vacation to Portugal. Despite my best intentions, I am just not disciplined... more »
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I am currently training for the NYC marathon and while traveling in Porto needed to maintain my training scheduled so I decided to do a 15 mile run with Porto Running tours. I am so happy that I did! ... more »
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I had a wonderful running tour with Sergio early in the morning on a recent trip. Sergio was very friendly and had a lot of history to share with me along the way. He made sure we hit all of the top s... more »
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