Porto stretches along the slopes of the Douro River, all the way to its mouth.
Portugal’s second largest city, Porto overlooks the world-famous Port Wine Cellars, located on the opposite bank of the river in Vila Nova de Gaia. A harmonious combination of ancient and contemporary attractions, as well as a character and light all of its own, make Porto a truly enchanting city.
The district of Porto is a dynamic centre of commerce and industry, full of beautiful towns and thriving cities.
Along the coast, you can enjoy delicious fish in Matosinhos or explore the vibrant cultural and gastronomic life of Greater Porto.
Just a few kilometers from Porto, it’s well worth visiting Guimarães, the birthplace of the Portuguese nation, with its historic center classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Braga, one of the oldest cities in the country, also impresses with its monuments, churches, and religious tradition, being an important cultural and spiritual hub in northern Portugal.
Inland, the beautiful city of Amarante stands out, known for its delicious pastries, where you can take a stroll along the banks of the River Tâmega, among imposing 17th century manor houses.
Visit Porto!
The district of Porto is a dynamic centre of commerce and industry, full of beautiful towns and thriving cities.
Along the coast, you can take a break in the seaside town of Espinho, savour tasty fish in Matosinhos or spend a few moments relaxing in the Casino da Póvoa.
Inland, the beautiful city of Amarante stands out, known for its delicious pastries, where you can take a stroll along the banks of the River Tâmega, among imposing 17th century manor houses.
Visit Porto!
Porto has its origins in a pre-Roman settlement. In Roman times it was called Cale or Portus Cale, which is how Portugal got its name.
The city’s coat of arms includes the image of Our Lady. Hence the fact that Porto is also known as the ‘city of the Virgin’, an epithet to which must be added ‘Ancient, Very Noble, Always Loyal and Invicta’, which have been attributed to it over the centuries and following the valiant deeds of its inhabitants.
It was within its walls that King João I married the English princess D. Filipa de Lencastre. A city that is proud to have been the birthplace of Prince Henry the Navigator, a key figure in the Portuguese Discoveries.
Because of the sacrifices they made to support the preparation of the armada that set off in 1415 to conquer Ceuta, the people of Porto earned a nickname that has remained to this day. They offered the expeditionaries all the meat they had and kept only the tripe for their own food, making a very tasty dish with it. The inhabitants of Porto came to be called ‘tripeiros’. The expression is still used today, and the gastronomic speciality is a must in any local restaurant.
Porto played a fundamental role in the defence of the ideals of liberalism in the battles of the 19th century. The courage with which it withstood the siege of the miguelist troops during the civil war of 1832-34 and the valiant deeds of its people – the famous Siege of Oporto – earned it the title, unique among the other cities of Portugal, of Invicta Cidade do Porto, awarded by Queen Maria II.
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