Heroísmo & Campo 24 de Agosto - Metro Stops #13 & #14
Heroísmo – Metro Stop #13
It should be no surprise that Heroísmo translates as heroism. Perhaps this metro stop was so named for the Military Museum of Porto that is nearby. This stop, and the next, are located in the quiet residential Porto neighborhood of Bonfim. It was especially quiet when we visited as it was a national holiday (August 15 – the religious holiday of the Assumption of Mary.) Not only do many businesses close for that day, but it is the unofficial beginning of the summer holiday season in Europe and many business close for weeks or for the whole month. Much work comes to a stand-still.
24 de Agosto – Metro Stop #14
On maps this metro stop is called 24 de Agosto. In the station, the signs say Campo 24 de Agosto. (Campo means field) Either way, we assume this metro stop is named for the date in 1820 when the Liberal Revolution was declared that later lead to the the first constitution. There is a tiny park near the station by the same name. Inside the station one level down from the street you can find “Arca de Mijavelhas” which are ruins of a 16th century water reservoir that were unearthed during the metro dig and preserved. There are two things that struck us about the area around this metro stop; a) the number of buses as there is a big bus depot here, and b) the crazy amount of major construction going on. It is clearly a neighborhood trying to change it’s image and modernize. Yet, there is still an “old neighborhood” feel to it.
