Rua dos Mercadores, Medieval pedestrian street in the historic center of Porto, Portugal.
This narrow cobblestone street slopes down from Rua da Bainharia to the Ribeira waterfront, lined with restored ancient houses featuring colorful facades and traditional small shops.
Documented since 1309 as 'rua per hu vam a Ribeira', this street served as one of the main circulation axes of the medieval city connecting the merchant center to the episcopal district.
The street housed the Hospital-Inn of Santa Clara from the 13th century, an assistance institution that welcomed pilgrims traveling to Santiago de Compostela and the city's needy residents.
Accessible from Ribeira Square, this 270-meter pedestrian street provides easy access to the Barredo neighborhood through its adjacent stairs and narrow alleys.
The 16th-century stone tower houses preserve remarkable Gothic architectural details such as gargoyles and carved doorways typical of medieval Porto construction.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
