Stairs descend along the medieval walls. Construction of a series of walls began in 1336 in the reign of King D. Afonso IV. In 1387, Porto was the site of the marriage of John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster, daughter of John of Gaunt; this symbolized a long-standing military alliance between Portugal and England. The Portuguese-English union (see the Treaty of Windsor) is the world's oldest recorded military alliance. Being an early part of the city, this site has not yet been restored. Its proximity to the ancient fishing district explains neglect on the one hand and unique charm on the other.
Photo By Concierge.2C - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0