Rua de Santa Catarina, Shopping street in Bonfim, Porto, Portugal
Rua de Santa Catarina is a long shopping street running through the Santo Ildefonso and Bonfim neighborhoods of Porto, Portugal. Most of it is closed to cars, lined on both sides with shops, street stalls, cafes, and restaurants that open directly onto the pavement.
In the 1700s the street was called Rua Nova de Santa Catarina, and it was later extended to reach what is now Praça do Marquês de Pombal. In the following century, much of the land along the western side belonged to a renowned wine merchant, D. Antónia Ferreira, known as Ferreirinha.
Rua de Santa Catarina takes its name from the Capela das Almas, a small chapel dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria. Its facade is covered in colorful tiles showing scenes from the saint's life, and it is one of the most noticed sights along the street.
The street is easy to reach on foot and sits close to the Bolhão metro stop, making it accessible from several parts of the city. Weekends and public holidays tend to draw larger crowds, so allowing extra time for the walk is a good idea.
In 1896, the first film ever made in Portugal was shot on this street, showing workers leaving a nearby factory. That short recording is considered the oldest known cinema footage from the country.
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