t PortoPonte de Dom Luís I stretching away from the tiled houses of Ribeira
t PortoPonte de Dom Luís I stretching away from the tiled houses of Ribeira
Experience Porto
Ever since the Romans built a fort here at their settlement of Portus, Porto has prospered from commerce. The city was quick to expel the Moors in the 11th century and to profit from provisioning Crusaders en route to the Holy Land. Porto also took advantage of the wealth generated by Portugal’s extensive maritime discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries.
When Portugal lost the lucrative spice trade, as her former colonies were taken up by the Dutch or granted independence, Porto still thrived due to the precious drink to which the city gave its name: port. From its hillside, Porto looks across the Douro to the lodges that nurture this fortified wine, many of which bear the names of British companies such as Taylor’s, Croft and Graham’s. The trade with these foreign companies secured the city’s fortunes.
Still a thriving industrial centre and Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto, sometimes referred to as Oporto, blends industry with charm – as was evident in 2001 when the city was named the European Capital of Culture.