Jardim do Morro

Jardim do Morro is a green space in the parish of Santa Marinha, in Vila Nova de Gaia, at the foot of the Serra do Pilar and next to the upper deck of the Ponte Luís I. It serves as a viewpoint over the historic part of Porto and the Douro river.

The garden

It was inaugurated in 1927 as part of an urban improvement plan for the Gaia hillside, and its layout has changed little since. It has a pond, a wide variety of plant species and 22 linden trees lined up along the last stretch of Avenida da República. According to Wikipedia, renovation works were planned in 2016, including an open-air amphitheatre, a senior fitness park and a cafeteria; the sources consulted do not confirm what was actually built.

Around the garden

• Serra do Pilar Monastery: construction began in the 16th century and the circular church was inaugurated in 1672. It has been a National Monument since 1910 and is part of the Historic Centre of Porto, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
• Ponte Luís I: the metro crosses the upper deck, and the station sits just south of the bridge.
• Gaia Cable Car: links Cais de Gaia to Jardim do Morro over a 560-metre route, inaugurated on 1 April 2011.

Getting there

Jardim do Morro metro station, on line D, opened on 17 September 2005; it is a surface station reached from Avenida da República. Besides the metro, you can arrive by cable car or on foot across the bridge. The spot is often mentioned as a popular place to watch the sunset. Cable car and metro timetables should be checked with the operators.