Jardim Do Morro

Jardim do Morro is a small hilltop garden in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south bank of the Douro, and it has become one of the favourite places to watch the sunset in the Porto area. It sits at the upper end of the Dom Luís I Bridge, where the high deck of the iron arch lands on the hill, and it commands a view back across the river to the old town of Porto, whose terracotta roofs, church towers, and tiers of colourful houses climb the opposite slope. The Douro runs below in a deep gorge, and the whole scene is framed by the great curve of the bridge.

The garden itself is simple. A few lawns, flower beds, and shady trees, with benches and gravel paths, sit on the crown of the hill, and the atmosphere is relaxed, with students, couples, and families gathered on the grass. Musicians often play in the late afternoon, and people arrive with drinks and snacks to settle on the grass for the sunset, which turns the river and the roofs golden. In the evening, the lights of Porto come on across the water, and the bridge is illuminated. The viewpoint is free and open at all hours.

The garden stands in front of the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, a 16th-century monastery with a round church and a circular cloister, among the most unusual in Portugal, which is part of the UNESCO-listed historic centre of Porto. The hill played a role in history: in 1809 the Duke of Wellington used the monastery's heights to cross the Douro and surprise the French army in Porto, and in the siege of Porto in 1832 and 1833 the monastery was a key position for liberal forces. A visit to the church and the cloister gives a different perspective.

The garden is easy to reach. The Jardim do Morro metro station, on the upper deck of the bridge, brings visitors across the river from Porto, and it is also possible to walk across the bridge's upper level, which gives a thrilling view down into the gorge. The Gaia cable car begins here and descends to the riverfront and the port lodges. A walk down the slope leads to the quay and the wine cellars.

The garden suits everyone, particularly photographers and those wanting a calm spot to end the day. Arrive an hour before sunset to find a place, and bring a jacket.