Haunted Porto: Legends, Stories and Myths, Through the Night

Cláudia Aragão, Journalist from the newspaper Jornalismo Porto Net (JPN), did the Haunted Port Tour, here are her impressions:

Do you know the legend of Gaia? And the myth of Hotel Teatro? These and other stories are told by Pedro Vasconcelos, organizer of the tour "Haunted Porto". In a fast rhythm, the seven-seater 4X4 vehicle leaves Trindade Metro Station shortly after 6:00 p.m. Chatting a little, and in ten minutes we already know a few fables.

"It is said to be haunted." Pedro refers to Hotel Teatro. The tragedy of the nineteenth century that happened there, in the old Baquet theater, seems to be still present, at least in spirit. More than a hundred people died in a fire, so there are rooms that open on their own and people can hear knock on doors. At least, it is what is said today.

But the Teatro Hotel is not the only victim of haunts. In Afurada, one can see a house on the top of a hill that is frequently visited by ghost hunters. At the beginning of the century, several paranormal investigators swore to have listen the phrase "Get out of here!". But the authenticity of the event remains a mystery.

Obscure Symbols

Along the route, which lasts about seven hours and includes more than a dozen stops, we realize that the stories are immense, but there are curiosities that stand out. In fact, in all supernatural phenomena, the four elements (water, earth, fire and air) and the crossroads, are present. Flowers have a double function: to give a good smell to the dead and to keep him company, ending their life too...

"When we talk about magic and religion, we talk about myths," explains the organizer of the tour. The candles are also everywhere we visit, but Pedro emphasizes that blacks are synonymous to black magic. In the mountains, it is also common to see a cross attached to the cliffs. This happens "to be closer to the sky, but also to sactify the place avoiding that "others" take place...", clarifies Pedro Vasconcelos.

As for hazards, he ensures that they are controlled. "Any activity always has risks, but as long as we stay on track, I do not think it's dangerous," he says. However, there is an episode that he does not forget, when he was visiting a haunted site: "We were telling stories and then suddenly there was a groan in the middle and it was a little awkward. Everyone thought it was somebody on our team, but I insure it was not."

The ride goes on through the night, so fear can be our biggest enemy. But for the organization, "the course is good at night, especially in winter". In reality, no one enters the most obscure places without Pedro Vasconcelos checking the space. In addition, the leader has the opinion that the best are groups "between two to nine people", so that they create bonds and are able to tell the stories without many distractions.

What to do at Porto?

The first event of the team was Halloween Late Harvest in 2014. From then on, they realized that this tour "could have an interesting capacity in terms of commercialization" and so they re-made it to make it more extensive and "with more staging points", says Pedro. In addition, the organization thinks that in the late afternoon, after touring the rabel boats and visiting port wine cellars, many tourists think: "what to do now?". Thus, the ideal activity was born and complement to a little escape in the town.

To collect stories and places with obscure activity, they searched for haunted sites and, simultaneously, did a research on legends related to the History of the region. It was all these elements that led them to the "Haunted Porto".

So far, the age group that most seeks the tour are people between 30/40 years old. French, English, Spanish and Portuguese are the languages available. At the price, 66.60 euros, is included transport, dinner and very "suspense". For those interested in legends, stories, myths, witchcraft and hauntings, reservations are by phone or email, and can be made through the website and Facebook. It is advisable for participants to wear comfortable clothing and prepare themselves, because the end of the tour may even be breathtaking...

The solstice O Solestício

The equinoxes and, above all, the solestices, according to the old religions are magical moments, in which portals are opened between the realms of the living and the dead, in which fertility is celebrated, and these are moments in which the real magic happens.

Therefore, there has always been a concern in "measuring" the year, to verify the stars alignments, and to respect the rhythms of the Earth.

Since ancient times, monuments have been erected all over the world, whose true function is unknown today, but in which when the sun or the moon shines or creates shadows in special places, when the season changes and the Earth enters a new cycle.

Newgrange, in Ireland, is a very good example of this, and in the summer solstice the sunrise turns the total darkness in an intense glow.

Well, today is the winter solstice, the biggest night of the year. The time when, according to the Norse traditions, the Sun passed away and the light returned to the world. The winter solstice was thus a celebration of the rebirth of light. So it has been recovered by the Christian tradition, as the birth of Christ, the light of the world.

Curious, or not, is the fact that at this time the Jews celebrate the Hanukkah. On the 24th day of the month of Kislev (coincides more or less with "our" December), at sunset, the date is celebrated when the oil burned for eight days in the temple of Jerusalem and the light kept shining .


In the Roman Christian tradition, the birth of Christ is celebrated and eight days later a new year begins.

Os equinócios e, sobretudo, os solestícios, segundo as velhas religiões são momentos mágicos, em que se abrem portais entre os reinos dos vivos e dos mortos, em que a fertilidade é celebrada, são momentos em que a real magia acontece.

Daí que, desde sempre, houve a preocupação de "medir" o ano, verificar os alinhamentos dos astros e dessa forma respeitar os ritmos da terra.

Desde tempos ancestrais, que em todo o mundo se ergueram monumentos cuja verdadeira função é hoje desconhecida, mas em que o Sol, ou a Lua, brilham ou criam sombras em locais especiais, nos momentos em que a estação do ano se altera e a terra entra num novo ciclo. 

O Newgrange, na Irlanda é disso um bom exemplo e no solestício de Verão o nascer do Sol, transforma a total escuridão, num brilho intenso.

Pois bem, hoje é o Solestício de Inverno, a maior noite do ano. A altura em que segundo as tradições nórdicas, o Sol passava para outro lado e a luz regressava. O Solestício de Inverno era assim uma festa que celebrava o renascimento da luz. Daí que tenha sido recuperada pela tradição cristã, como o nascimento de Cristo, a luz que veio ao mundo.

Curioso, ou não, é o facto de que nesta altura os Judeus celebram o Hanukkah. Ao 24º dia do mês de Kislev (coincide mais ou menos com o "nosso" Dezembro), ao pôr do sol, celebra-se a data em que o azeite ardeu por oito dias no templo de Jerusalém e a luz manteve-se a brilhar.


Na tradição Cristã Romana, celebra-se o nascimento de Cristo e oito depois comemora-se um novo ano.

Dark Side - O Lado Negro

Morbid tourism is definitely a trend. Just as there is eno-tourism, cultural or religious tourism, where each "buzzword" responds to the needs of a group, which seeks a certain "terroir", a pilgrimage route, or a particular building, there are those who seek to revive a catastrophe, the places where crimes happened, or to seek the simple thrill of search for a ghost, a spell, or to go into the "dark" side.

Paris, Buenos Aires and London are some of the examples of cities that have long understood that their cemeteries, their serial killers, their bloodiest legends, are a focus of interest to so many. And at Porto, what to do?

"The Haunted Porto", or "The Ghost Bus" are answers.

O Turismo mórbido é cada vez mais uma tendência implantada no mercado. Assim como há eno-turismo, turismo cultural, ou religioso, em que cada "chavão" corresponde às necessidades de um grupo, que procura um determinado "terroir", uma rota de peregrinação, ou um determinado edifício, também há quem procure as áreas de catástrofe, os locais onde aconteceram crimes, ou buscam a simples emoção de procurar um fantasma, um feitiço, ou embrenhar-se num lado mais "escuro".

Paris, Buenos Aires, Londres, são alguns dos exemplos de cidades que há muito entenderam que os seus cemitérios, os seus "serial killers", as suas lendas mais sangrentas, são foco de interesse para tantos que por lá passam. E no Porto, o que fazer?

"O Porto Assombrado", ou o "Autocarro Fantasma" são respostas.

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