Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and really does cater for anyone’s taste. It is in fact Portugal’s namesake and the focus of the port-wine trade. It is located in the estuary of the Douro River, which is one of Portugal’s scenic highlights as it runs all the way from Porto to the Spanish border and the abundance of scenic landscape that surrounds it is breathtaking.
The historic centre of Porto was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. it is incredibly well preserved, which may be attributable to the fact that the city has a reputation for having patriotic and determined residents who have managed to defend themselves against invasion over the centuries. These days, its residents are known for being business savvy and commercially determined and this too is evident in a lot of the modern aspects and infrastructure of the city.
Foz do Douro - Porto, photo by José Manuel
Intertwined throughout this modern feel remains much of its old architecture and buildings meaning Porto has lost little of its old charm. Its many streets are superb for getting lost in, and it has wonderful old trams that run along the banks of its river. Wander through its historic centre, marvel at its baroque buildings, stroll through its parks and eventually stumble upon downtown; an area that is literally a bubbling hot pot of great bars, plenty of shops and lots of music.
More information: visitportugal.com
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