In the magnificent entrance hall of the Sao Bento station in Porto, northern Portugal, is a display in painted tiles of key scenes in medieval history from that country. It’s an amazing riot of historical kitsch that has visitors to the city craning their necks to take it all in. Every time I go, out comes my camera and I have to take yet another series of snaps.
Thankfully, the newsagent that was dumped in the middle of the concourse has now been removed – what were the station managers thinking? Sao Bento was built on top of an old monastery and is a triumph of grandiose 19th century architecture. The tiles were added later. Every year, I see tourists straining to look upwards and all around at the medieval battle scenes.
You must visit when you go to Porto!
