Porto travel guide — Porto tourism and travel information

Porto travel guide

about Porto

Porto (in English also Oporto), population 263,000 in 15 parishes, with 1,551,950 in the metropolitan area, is Portugal's second city and district seat. It is situated in the north of the country, on the northern bank of the Douro River, just in from the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The country and the Port Wine (Portuguese: Vinho do Porto) owe their names to the city of Porto.

Historic references the city go back to the 5th century and Roman times. In the period before the foundation of Portugal, it was named Portus Cale - Harbour of Cale in English. The surrounding county was thus named Condado Portucalense. This county later became the independent kingdom called Portugal, which eventually expanded to its current frontiers.

This city was the scene for the marriage of João I and Philippa of Lancaster, symbolising the long-standing military alliance between Portugal and England. This alliance was at times respected and at other times not.

An anecdote from the times of Portugal's expansion overseas tells of the citizens of Porto providing meat for the sailors and retaining only tripes (tripas in Portuguese) for themselves. The Portans thus acquired the nickname tripeiros, which is still in use today. From the same episode a typical dish from this city was created, Tripas à Moda do Porto (Tripes à la Porto in English), which still can be found everywhere in the city today.

One of Portugal's internationally appreciated products is Port Wine. Its name comes from the fact that it ages in cellars in Porto's sister city Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river.

The Italian architect Nasoni designed a tower that was built in one of the central zones of the city and became its icon: Torre dos Clérigos.

Near cities to Porto

• Gondomar travel guide 6.7 km
• Matosinhos travel guide 8.4 km
• Valongo travel guide 8.4 km
• Espinho travel guide 21 km
• Vila Nova de Gaia travel guide 27 km
• Vila Nova de Famalicao travel guide 27 km
• Sao Joao da Madeira travel guide 33 km
• Guimaraes travel guide 39 km
• Barcelos travel guide 39 km
• Braga travel guide 43 km

Near webcams to Porto

• Praia Grande webcam 9.7 km
• O Cebreiro webcam 190 km
• La Coruna webcam 240 km
• Lisbon - Amoreiras (A5) webcam 280 km
• Lisabon - Ponte 25 de Abril (Norte) webcam 280 km
• Lisabon - Ponte 25 de Abril (Sul) webcam 280 km
• Carcavelos webcam 290 km
• Costa da Caparica webcam 290 km
• Gijón webcam 360 km
• Madrid webcam 420 km

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Porto travel services

cheap flights to Porto

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Porto real estate

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Porto travel books

Porto travel guide books

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Porto maps and atlases

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