City guide · Porto
Porto
A port city at the mouth of the Douro: colourful riverbanks, iron bridges and port wine
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, where the Douro River meets the sea. As you cross the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge, you will see the colourful houses and wine lodges on both banks of the river; then, down at the Ribeira waterfront, you can sit in a waterside restaurant, eat grilled sardines, and drink a glass of port wine. Porto has many steep hills, so please wear a good pair of walking shoes. The tiles, churches, and markets of the old town are worth two unhurried days. Also worth visiting in the city: Porto Cathedral, São Bento station, Palácio da Bolsa, Church of São Francisco, Clérigos Tower, Livraria Lello, Bolhão Market, Crystal Palace Gardens, Maria Pia Bridge, Foz do Douro beach, Church of Santo Ildefonso and Casa do Infante.
History
How the city came to be
Porto first developed as a fishing and trading port in Roman times, and later became a hub for trade between northern Portugal and coastal cities. During the Age of Discovery in the 15th to 17th centuries, ships from Porto sailed to Brazil, India, Newfoundland, and Macau, and the city grew wealthy. As the port wine trade between Portugal and Britain grew, wine merchants built lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia on the south bank of the Douro and houses on the riverside slopes. Porto Cathedral was begun in the 12th century and completed in the 13th century. São Bento station was inaugurated in 1916, and its main hall is decorated with around 20,000 tiles depicting Portuguese history. In 1996, the historic centre of Porto (the Ribeira district) was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Roman periodPorto develops as a fishing and trading port.
- 12th to 13th centuriesPorto Cathedral is begun and completed.
- 4 March 1394Henry the Navigator is born in Porto (his birthplace is in the area of today's Casa do Infante).
- 15th to 17th centuriesthe Age of Discovery, when Porto grows wealthy through overseas trade.
- 1877the Maria Pia Bridge is completed (designed by Eiffel).
- 1886the Dom Luís I Bridge is completed (designed by a pupil of Eiffel).
- 1916São Bento station is inaugurated.
- 1996the historic centre of Porto (the Ribeira district) is inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Stories
Stories of the city
Prince Henry the Navigator and the Casa do Infante
History · Porto Old Town and the Douro River
According to local tradition, Prince Henry the Navigator (Infante D. Henrique) was born in 1394 in the Casa do Infante by the river. The building began as a 14th-century royal customs house and now holds Porto's municipal historical archive, with an exhibition on the city's history; excavations also uncovered Roman-era foundations and mosaic floors beneath it.
Portus Cale and the name of Portugal
History · Porto Old Town and the Douro River
Porto's ancient name, Portus Cale, is often cited as the possible origin of the name Portugal. The idea rests on the transliteration and spoken evolution of the Latin place name; it is widely repeated but not settled.
Rabelo boats and the wine trade
History · Porto Old Town and the Douro River
From the 13th century, flat-bottomed rabelo boats carried casks down the Douro, bringing the wines of the Douro valley to Porto. The lodges of Gaia across the river handled storage, packaging and export, and this river trade is the liveliest footnote to the bond between the old town and the river.
Trips beyond the city
These places can be explored from this city but lie outside it. See each place for transport and visiting guidance.
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