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Ribeira Expedition
Ribeira, Porto, Portugal
Ribeira Expedition
Ribeira, Porto, Portugal
Content
You have explored the stories hidden inside São Bento Station.
You have crossed the ancient streets of the Sé Neighbourhood.
You have followed the clues, solved the challenges and carried D. Pedro’s heart through two of the most important places in Porto.
Now there is only one final stage left.
Following the clue from your previous expedition, make your way down through Rua de São João until the old streets finally open towards the Douro River.
Welcome to Ribeira.
This is where your final mission begins.
Complete the 3 final challenges, discover the secret hidden within the medieval streets of the neighbourhood and find the place where D. Pedro’s heart can finally rest.
Complete the mission successfully and you will unlock the Knight of Ribeira Badge.
But more importantly... you will finally fulfil D. Pedro’s last wish.
Discover Ribeira
Ribeira is one of the oldest parts of Porto.
For centuries, life here developed around the Douro River. Merchants, sailors, workers and travellers filled its streets, while goods arrived and departed from its busy riverfront.
Its colourful houses, narrow streets, stairways, arches and hidden corners still preserve much of the character of old Porto.
Praça da Ribeira itself has medieval origins and was historically an important commercial area of the city.
Today, Ribeira may be one of Porto’s most famous postcards.
But your final destination is not one of the places that most visitors come here to see.
Somewhere behind the busy riverfront, inside the maze of old streets, something much smaller is waiting for you.
First, however, you must prove that you are ready.
Challenge 1 — A Taste of Porto
Walk down Rua de São João until you reach Praça da Ribeira. Look around carefully.
On the monumental fountain overlooking the square, you will find São João Baptista — Saint John the Baptist, one of the great symbols of Porto’s most famous celebration. The statue that you see today was placed there on 24 June 2000.
Every year, during the night of São João, Porto fills with music, dancing, traditions... and the smell of food being grilled in the streets. And every true Porto celebration needs its traditional meal.
What are the three main foods traditionally served together during São João in Porto?
Find the answer and record it as your first piece of evidence.
Hint: one swims, one grows in the ground, and one is baked.
Challenge 2 — Across the Douro
Now turn towards the Douro River.
Look across to Vila Nova de Gaia.
During the Siege of Porto, controlling the areas around the river was essential. One particularly important position became an improvised fortress and was the only Liberal stronghold maintained south of the Douro.
You can still see it from Ribeira today. Look for a remarkable building standing high above Gaia. Its church has a very unusual characteristic: it is circular.
Your challenge is to discover: What is the name of this place?
Once you have identified it, take a photograph of it from Ribeira.
Keep the photograph as your second piece of evidence.
Challenge 3 — D. Pedro’s Final Wish
This is it.
Everything you have discovered since São Bento has brought you here.
You have carried D. Pedro’s heart through the history of Porto.
You have followed the stories of kings, defenders, saints, ordinary people and the Invicta City itself.
Now you must find the place where the heart can finally be left in peace.
But Porto will not reveal its final secret easily.
Your destination is hidden somewhere inside the old streets of Ribeira.
Here are your final clues:
- Most visitors pass through Ribeira without ever noticing it.
- Leave the busy riverfront behind and enter the old medieval streets.
- What you are looking for is embedded in the wall of a house.
- BARREDO will lead you in the right direction.
To discover the number, solve: 8 ÷ 2 x (2 + 2) + 3
When you believe you have found the correct place, stop and look carefully.
Search for the words: SENHOR DA BOA FORTUNA
You have found it.
The Final Moment
For centuries, small religious niches like this formed part of everyday life in Porto’s oldest neighbourhoods. Here, in Rua do Barredo, the Senhor da Boa Fortuna remains quietly embedded in the façade of a house.
And according to local tradition, those who find this hidden place may carry a little good fortune with them on their journey.
After travelling through Porto with you, D. Pedro’s heart has finally reached the end of its journey.
Your mission is complete.
Take a moment together as a team. Think about the journey you have just completed, the people who walked beside you and the experiences that brought you here.
Then make one wish of good fortune — for yourself, for someone in your team, or for the journey still ahead of you.
Take one final photograph of the Senhor da Boa Fortuna as evidence that D. Pedro’s mission has been completed. The heart can now rest.
And you can continue your own journey carrying a little piece of Porto — and, hopefully, a little good fortune — with you.
“Do good, and good will come to you.”
Mission accomplished, Knights of Porto. ❤️
Get activity badge
The Knight of Ribeira Get this badge
The Knight of Ribeira Badge recognises the successful completion of the final expedition of The Invicta City Game.
By earning this Badge, the participant has explored Porto’s historic riverfront and medieval Ribeira neighbourhood, discovered traditions connected to the city’s identity and traced another important chapter of the Liberal history associated with D. Pedro IV.
During the final expedition, the participant demonstrated the ability to:
* navigate through an unfamiliar urban environment using clues and landmarks;
* investigate local history, traditions and cultural heritage;
* observe and interpret the surrounding city;
* connect historical events with real places;
* solve clues using logical reasoning;
* work collaboratively towards a shared objective;
* document discoveries through written and photographic evidence;
* persevere through a multi-stage mission until reaching its final goal.
By discovering the hidden Senhor da Boa Fortuna in the old streets of Ribeira, the participant has successfully completed the final stage of D. Pedro’s journey.
The heart has reached its destination. The mission is complete.
Tasks
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
To earn the Knight of Ribeira Badge, successfully complete all three challenges of the Ribeira Expedition.
Task 1 — A Taste of Porto
Find the São João Baptista statue at Praça da Ribeira and discover the three main foods traditionally associated with Porto’s São João celebrations.
Task 2 — Across the Douro
Observe Vila Nova de Gaia from Ribeira, identify the historic building with the circular church that played an important role during the Siege of Porto, and photograph it.
Task 3 — D. Pedro’s Final Wish
Follow the final clues through the medieval streets of Ribeira and discover the hidden Senhor da Boa Fortuna.
Once you reach the final destination, complete D. Pedro’s mission and make one wish of good fortune for yourself, another participant or your future journey.
Evidence to submit
To validate the Badge, submit:
1. Your answer: identifying the three traditional foods from Challenge 1.
2. A photograph of the historic building identified across the Douro in Challenge 2.
3. A photograph of the Senhor da Boa Fortuna confirming that you successfully reached D. Pedro’s final destination.
All three pieces of evidence must be submitted to unlock the Knight of Ribeira Badge.
Location
Ribeira, Porto, Portugal
Organisers
Jumpinhub
Used in playlists
Porto - The Invicta City
JumpinhubCreated on Porto city of learning
Awero not-for-profit organisation manages this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact [email protected].
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