Portugal Bolsa Palace Porto

Previously, Bolsa Palace Porto was Porto’s stock exchange. When the EU decreed that Portugal could only have one stock exchange, Lisbon’s was chosen. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site which was finally completed in 1910, after decades of decoration by various artists.

As you enter on the ground floor, there are emblems against a gold background representing the countries that were Portugal’s main trading partners. Up the impressive stairway to the first floor are various rooms such a Tribunal where disputes between merchants were heard, a teletype room, and various other rooms used to conduct business as an exchange. Most impressive of all is the Arab room, richly adorned in Islamic style and using all of 18 Kgs of gold leaf.

The only way to gain entrance is on a guided tour. Book one in the language of your choice and hope your guide is not too chatty because another tour will be 20 minutes behind you. If you want images that are not cluttered with people, wait until your group has left, take your shots and catch up.

Yes, you can use a tripod, and I would advise it.

Porto is a city for walking around and exploring with a camera. There is parking but there was never space when I passed. Its a central location and St Francis Church, another World Heritage site, is right beside it, around the corner.