The former district of the capital of Northern Portugal, the small city of Vila Nova de Gaia, is just a few kilometers from Porto. It lies on the other side of the Douro River. Just as Porto offers a beautiful panorama of the surroundings behind the Dom Luis I Bridge, the ancient monastery in Vila Nova de Gaia stands on a hilltop with the best view of the historic center of Porto.

The observation deck of the Monastery of Serra do Pilar is considered a popular tourist attraction, visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. The monastery began with a community of nuns, founded in the 16th century. No traces remained of this old nunnery. At first, it became too small for a growing monastic order, and then, during numerous wars and battles, the monastery turned into a fortress. Only at the beginning of the 20th century, it lost its military status and became a national landmark of Portugal. And even though a thorough restoration has begun, most of its territory still belongs to military barracks.

Today, the monastery is considered functioning and regularly holds Sunday masses. But on other days, there are always a lot of tourists. Some are fascinated by the unique design of the building with elements of the Renaissance and Mannerism, others – by the unusual round shape of the church. Still, others are attracted by beautiful views of the Porto's main attractions and the picturesque surrounding landscapes. A steep stone staircase with a hundred steps leads to the balcony encircling the dome of the church. At the top, you will be so delighted that it is definitely worth the hard climb. A light, pleasant breeze blows over the tanned faces of travelers. The warm sun rays play with reflections on the picturesque Douro surface. The multi-faceted and colorful city is visible in the distance. This is Porto, a city of ancient temples, palaces, white houses with terracotta tiles, aromas of strong coffee in the morning, and a rich taste of port wine in the evening.

And don't forget to climb up to the observation deck as the sun sets over the horizon to enjoy a fabulous pink sunset and the twinkling starry sky.