home Spinning City of Porto, Portugal: attractions, description and interesting facts. Why is Porto called the pearl of Portugal? What is the name of the city of Porto

City of Porto, Portugal: attractions, description and interesting facts. Why is Porto called the pearl of Portugal? What is the name of the city of Porto

Is it not from the view of the embankment of the Dora River, with multi-colored cell houses of the ancient Ribeira district? Bright colors of houses, noisy taverns built right on the remains of the city's fortress wall. Here and there, scurrying past the boats "rabelos", the same ones that were used in the past to transport barrels of port. Trays of traders selling all sorts of rubbish standing along the Cais embankment ...

01. Last time, describing my walk around, I stopped at the bell tower of the Clerigos church, from where a wonderful view of the main symbols of the city opens.

04. Heinrich the Navigator, of course, a noble traveler ...
The authors of the monument, as if by chance, directed his pointing finger at

05. Exchange building! From where the traveler symbolically drew finances for his travels. And do not be confused by the fact that the building was built 430 years after the death of Henry, the authors erected a monument to him even later!

06. Spinning through the narrow streets of Ribeira,

07. I finally went to the embankment of the Dora River,

08. And froze with pleasure, carefully examining the details of bright houses.

12. On the other side - another city! Vila Nova de Gaia. Here are the famous wine cellars with Portuguese port wine.

13. Walking along the Cais embankment, I could not deny myself the pleasure of climbing the Luis I bridge

14. The most famous symbol of Porto, built in 1886 by a student of Gustave Eiffel (the same one), the Belgian engineer Theophile Seyrigou. A two-level bridge, replacing the Pencil Bridge (1841), from which the commemorative columns remain (right).

15. View of the wine cellars (left) of Vila Nova de Gaia and the monastery of the order of St. Augustine, located in the Sierra del Pilar. The fact is that Vila Nova de Gaia is not only nearby town, but also an old rival of Porto. The more wine was stored in the cellars of the city, the richer it became. And the monastery was supposed to decorate the city, and become a worthy competitor to the opposite Ribeira. The monastery is really beautiful, and what a view opens from there to both banks of the Dora River! This last circumstance contributed to the growth of the popularity of the monastery, including among the military. So, in 1809, the only future hero of the Battle of Waterloo, Wellington, worked out the plans of the Portuguese military company of the British army against the Napoleonic army here. And even today, most of the monastery is occupied by the military, and is closed to access.

16. Time to Climb the Stairway to Heaven

16. Along the way, you will meet marvelous residential streets, you can even sit and take a break from the tiring climb.)

18. Unfortunately, Ribeira is in a very deplorable state: the houses are dilapidated, and today the poorest sections of society live in them. Since the area is under the protection of UNESCO, the city authorities are obliged to preserve and restore Ribeira. Due to this, the composition of the population of the district is gradually changing, the former residents are moving to other areas of the city.

19. And empty houses are waiting in the wings for restoration and the return of their former glory, under the protection of the formidable knight Vimar Peresh, who once defended the city in 868 before the Muslim troops.

20. Here, on the square near the Se Cathedral, is the Pelourinho column - once a pillory that serves as a place of public humiliation of the convicts.

21. Now a symbol of justice.

22. The Cathedral of Porto looks like a fortress, however, when it was started to be built in the XII century, the difference between the cathedral and the fortress was small.) Adjacent to the cathedral is the house of the church chapter, built in 1717-1722, the Bishop's palace remained in the shadow ...

23. So Vimar Peresh has something to guard in the local hills!

24. Well, finally, the upper level of the Luis I bridge, on which the Metro do Porto trams run ( there will be a story!.

25. From a height of almost 45 meters,

26. "rabelos" boats with barrels of Portuguese wine are clearly visible;

27. And like toy houses, on the waterfront of Cais da Ribeira;

28. And the remains of the fortress wall, destroyed during the reconstruction of the urban form in the distant XVIII century;

29. And the running waters of the meandering river Dora, striving towards the ocean, between two fires of competing neighbors.

30. Beautiful bridge. The upper level stretches for 392 meters, the lower one is more modest, only 174 meters.

31. Finally, we got to the beautiful, protocol views of Ribeira, which open from the side of Vila Nova de Gaia.

31. Do you recognize the Se Cathedral on the hill? It was from this cathedral that the city of Porto began. However, the inhabitants of Porto, especially in the presence of Lisbon, will not agree with us, rightly believing that the life of the local settlement began long before the arrival of the Romans...

32. However, Porto, as a city, officially began its countdown in the XII century, with the construction of a fortress-cathedral, known today as the Cathedral of Se. Houses began to be built around it, spreading urban life further and further ...

33. Today Porto is the second largest city in Portugal. The population is about 240 thousand people. And in the Greater Porto agglomeration (including all surrounding cities) - 1.75 million people. Almost a metropolis.

35. Sandeman is one of the symbols of modern Porto. This comrade is a very famous person, his silhouette can be seen here and there, and everywhere with a glass of wine... Who could it be?

Porto is one of the oldest European cities, which has retained the features of different eras in its appearance. Locals say that Porto works for the whole country, and they are right. The city has a huge number tourist spots, industrial enterprises, places of trade and entertainment. The northern capital of Portugal, from which the state got its name, attracts with its many-sided image, deep antiquity and modernity, the color of antiquity and modernity. And finally, it is the capital of the most famous port wine in the world, supplied to all countries, an attractive and unforgettable city, from where the path of many famous people past and present.

Geography

The northern capital of Portugal is located at the confluence of the Douro (or Duero) river into the Atlantic Ocean. Lisbon is only 270 kilometers away. Porto itself is located on the right bank of the river, while its suburbs are on the left. Development also takes place mainly to the north and east, since in the west, just a few kilometers away, ocean expanses begin. The relief of the area where the city is located is quite hilly, with significant elevation differences - from the Dora embankment to highest points over 100 meters above sea level. This affected the architecture and general location streets, winding, with many steps. The population of the city itself is slightly less than 250 thousand people, but the entire Greater Porto agglomeration is inhabited by more than 2 million people. With its great importance and influence on the economy, culture and tourism in Portugal, the city has an area of only 42 square kilometers, and the building density is quite high. In administrative terms, the division into districts is historical, with its ancient center and newer parts of the city. In total, there are 15 districts in the city, and they are located quite compactly. Porto is located on the zero meridian, and therefore the time does not differ from Greenwich Mean Time.

Climate

Only a few kilometers along the straight Avenida da Boavista separate the city from the Atlantic Ocean, and therefore the climate here is completely maritime with an enhanced influence of the warm current of the Gulf Stream. Porto often experiences precipitation and small storms, which traditionally fall during the winter months. At the same time, the heat in Porto is practically not felt, due to the rather high humidity and pleasant wind from the ocean. The influence of the continental climate is practically not felt. Winter is considered the rainiest, but quite warm, especially for Russian tourists. average temperature from December to February it does not drop even +5°C, but winds do occur. There are no frosts in Porto, and sub-zero temperatures are extremely rare. Spring and autumn are characterized by variable rainfall and a change in temperature, which occurs almost imperceptibly, as it falls (or rises) with stable indicators in two months. The most popular time to visit Porto is the summer period, which, nominally, lasts from May to September with stable thermometer readings from +17°C in the morning to +28°C in the afternoon. At the same time, temperature drops during the day can be practically absent, and there is practically no precipitation.

Story

Historians attribute the first settlements on the site of modern Porto to the period of the Celtic peoples who settled here in 300 BC. Until the Roman conquest in 136 BC. it was an ordinary village, which was transformed into a fort with various buildings of military and commercial importance - the name was given to Portus Cale. Over time, with the change of languages and pronunciations, this name turned into Portugal, as the whole country is called. After the conquest by the Visigoths in 540, a fortress was erected here and a bishopric was founded, and the city became the center of a small region. Until 1096, when the city and the surrounding duchy were inherited by Henry of Burgundy, Porto was alternately under the rule of the Moors, then the Kingdom of León. Each period left its mark on architecture, culture and art. According to historical data, the last Knights Templar fled to Portugal from the Pope and the French king. In 1387, the wedding of King John the First and a British princess took place in Porto - which became the basis of the longest peace and partnership treaty in European history - between England and Portugal. This document opened up unprecedented opportunities in trade with the British Isles, and later with the British Empire.

In the process of its development, Porto, even having lost the title of the capital of the kingdom, was constantly developing. In 1763, the construction of the famous Clérigos tower began, which was a landmark for ships entering the port. In 1762, a nautical academy was founded, transformed into a university, the second largest after Lisbon. In 1876-1877, Gustave Eiffel and his student worked in Porto, designing two famous metal bridges across the Douro River. In 1872, a permanent tram service was opened between the districts of the city. The only war that directly affected the territory of the city was the Napoleonic invasion in 1809, but it did not last long, as the British quickly liberated Porto and he returned to civilian life. World War II bypassed the whole country, which was neutral and helped refugees.
The industrial revolution had a significant impact on the development of Porto - it organized a large number of manufactories and enterprises, which formed the basis of today's industrial potential of the agglomeration. Porto has always been at the forefront of innovation, remaining an authentic historic city whose center is fully listed world heritage UNESCO.

Sights of Porto

The first thing that a visitor to the city of Porto will notice is the constant use of decorative tiles in decorating the facades of houses. Brazilian immigrants began to use tiles even more frequently in the 19th century, marking the golden age of Portuguese façade decoration. At first, the tiles were painted by hand, later, due to industrialization, manual work was replaced by mechanical printing of images. The most striking example of the use of azulejo tiles can be called the Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas). The chapel was built in the 18th century and did not differ in anything special. But in 1929, the walls of the chapel were decorated with 16,000 azulejo tiles, after which this landmark of Porto became the "bluest" among all the churches in the city.

The main attraction of the city of Porto and its symbol is the titanic bridge of King Luis I, built by the student and companion of Gustave Eiffel - Thiophile Seyrig in 1886. The bridge, built 7 years before the Eiffel Tower, reaches a length of 80 meters more than the tower itself - 385 meters and weighs more than 3 thousand tons, the height of the bridge is 44.5 meters. This grandiose creation has two levels - the lower one is for cars, and the subway trains run along the upper one. There are walking paths on both levels.
The hallmark of the city of Porto is also the bell tower of the Church of the Brotherhood of the Clerics. Building architectural complex consisting of a church and a bell tower was begun in 1732 by the church brotherhood, and completed in 1750. Different people worked on the construction of the ensemble, but Niccolo Nasoni and stonemason Antonio Pereira should be especially noted. The bell tower, which crowns the building on the western side, is considered one of the masterpieces of Niccolo Nasoni and is recognized as one of the main attractions of the city of Porto. Due to the fact that the bell tower reaches a height of 76 meters, it is the tallest church tower in Portugal. It is worth noting that it is in the Church of the Brotherhood of Clerics that the famous architect Niccolò Nasoni is buried.
The Church of Santo Ildefonso was built by an unknown architect between 1730 and 1737. Despite the restrained façade, the retablo of the altar demonstrates the sophistication and elegance of the building. The engraving work was done by master Niccolò Nasoni. In 1932, the church of Santo Ildefonso was decorated with tiles by Jorge Calaso. The tiles depict the life of the church protector - Saint Ildefonso, after whom the church was named.
Another attraction of Porto are the Church of Carmo and the Church of the Carmelites (Igrejas do Carmo and das Carmelitas). Their peculiarity lies in the fact that these two churches are located so close to each other that they can be mistaken for a single building. The Carmo Men's Church (located on the right) was built in the second half of the 18th century by the architect José Fgueiredo Seikas. The façade, lined with stone, is crowned with a francon, inside of which there are figures of the evangelists. The side facades of the church were covered with azulejo tiles in 1912. On the left is the Carmelite Women's Church. Notably, the churches are separated by a house that is only one meter wide (one of the narrowest houses in the world). The appearance of this house is due to the law, according to which two churches cannot have a common wall.
Sao Bento Station in Porto was built at the beginning of the 20th century on the site of the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary. The vestibule of the Station is covered with 20 thousand azulejo tiles (these tiles are one of the highest artistic achievements in Portugal of the 20th century). The tile compositions show scenes related to the railway and the history of transport, as well as to famous events from the history of Portugal.

Events and festivals

Porto often hosts a variety of events and celebrations that are timed to coincide with certain holidays. As the former capital of Portugal, the city celebrates national dates in a rather pompous way - for example, Independence Day (December 1) and Republic Day (October 5). However, the city often hosts other festivals, mostly dedicated to religious holidays.
The most popular and colorful event in Porto is the Day of St. Juan, the patron saint of the city. Every year on June 23-24, the whole of Porto is decorated in festive colors, fairs, processions, theatrical performances and open-air treats are held everywhere.
Christmas (Natal) and Easter are traditionally the most beloved holidays in Portugal, and Porto is no exception. Widespread celebrations, parades, performances and fairs are just a small part of what happens in the city for several days (or a whole December, in the case of the New Year holidays).
Equally popular in Portugal is bullfighting, which has its own characteristics and distinctive features, is more humane and, in a sense, spectacular. The opening and closing dates of the season are always citywide holidays with their own rituals and clearly regulated actions.
The beginning of autumn is also characterized by widespread wine festivals, which are very important for the city where port was born. During the fairs, young and aged wines, the best varieties and brands of port wine, brandy are presented.
In addition to the main holidays, various events are constantly held in Porto dedicated to museums (Open Days), cinema (Fantasportou Science Fiction Festival), music, architecture, books and other areas of art.
In February, as in all of Europe, a seven-day Carnival is held in Porto, with processions, parades, performances and other entertainment events. Another notable holiday takes place in September - International Festival puppet theaters are an entertaining event for adults and children, when the best troupes from all over the world come to present their skills.

Restaurants and cafes

As in all of Portugal, in Porto you can find a variety of catering establishments - like ordinary cafes with minimum prices, and expensive restaurants with Michelin stars. The local cuisine is quite simple and hearty, since, for the most part, it has developed historically and is based on seafood. However, there is one dish that distinguishes the city from all the others. Unofficially, the inhabitants of Porto are called Tripeiros, literally - "offal eaters" - which many are proud of. Indeed, the local specialty is "Tripash" - made from beef offal with a variety of vegetables. Also, you can not ignore the "feijoada" - meat cooked with rice and beans; "francesinho" - an analogue of a sandwich with ham, roast beef and sausage with tomato-beer sauce. The bulk of the menu of any institution consists of seafood, as a fresh catch is delivered to the city every day, where you can find not only traditional types of fish, but also quite exotic ones - for example, monkfish served in some restaurants. On the streets, the embankment and in many areas there are small cafes and bars where you can eat hearty and inexpensively, and try one of the varieties of the famous port wine.

shopping

The history and development of the city of Porto is closely connected with trade, and therefore it is not surprising that there are a lot of places where you can buy a variety of goods. Tourists are recommended to visit the old and colorful market "Bolyau", located on the Ria de Sa da Bandeira, where they constantly sell fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits and a variety of goods. Porto has a large number of shopping centers, branded boutiques, shops and outlets that represent both famous brands and local manufacturers. There are often family shops where you can buy various handicrafts. From the northern capital of Portugal, you must definitely bring as a keepsake or as a gift:

port wine - the city is the capital of this drink, in the vicinity of which dozens of types and varieties are produced. It is better to buy real port wine in specialized stores, or in the cellars of producers - where excursions with tastings are arranged;
azulejos - the famous ceramics, traditional only for Portugal. In Porto, almost everything is decorated with it - from the facades of buildings to small caskets, key rings, chests and other utensils;
cork products are another symbol of Portugal and Porto in particular. The country occupies one of the leading places in the production of this type of wood, and local craftsmen will offer a variety of cork crafts, including shoes, bags, accessories;
jewelry - the legacy of the Moors, Romans and other peoples who inhabited the area influenced crafts. Silver and gold products from local workshops are attractive, original, unusual and magnificent. There are a lot of varieties of jewelry, and you can choose goods at any price;
olives, cheese, jamon, egg cream, wine - traditional gastronomic souvenirs from Portugal;
figurines and goods with images of historical sights - there are a lot of such goods in all souvenir shops, and it is distinguished by originality, variety;
football symbols - the city is the home of the famous clubs "Porto" and "Boavista" - their paraphernalia can be bought in many souvenir shops and company stores.

How to get to Porto?

You can quickly get from Russia to distant Portugal only by plane - direct flights to Lisbon fly from almost all major cities. There are also connecting routes and they can take quite a long time, as they require transfers in Germany, France and Spain. In Porto itself there is a large international Airport Francisco de Sa Carneiro, located 11 kilometers from the center, accepting planes from all over Europe, including low-cost airlines, but the remoteness of the country leaves its mark on the trip. Lisbon can be reached by train and bus. Also, these modes of transport can be reached from Russia, but with many transfers in large transport hubs, such as Zurich, Madrid, Barcelona and others. The travel time is very long and sometimes a transit visa is required to cross some countries. On the own car You can get to Porto, but it is difficult, even though the city is located on one of the most important highways in the Iberian Peninsula. You have to cross at least five countries to get to Portugal. Still, the fastest means is aviation, whether it be direct flights to Lisbon, or connecting flights in other cities of the world. As a rule, when using low-cost airlines, you can fly to Porto in a maximum of 30 hours.

Transport

The city of Porto is famous for being one of the first in Europe to have a tram, despite the rather hilly terrain. To this day, an extensive public transport network operates in the historical capital of Portugal:

subway - five lines laid under the city unite all its districts and allow you to get not only to the main attractions, but also to the main transport hubs. For example, at the airport, at the train station - there is immediately a metro stop that allows you to quickly get to any point in the city;
the tram is a historical mode of transport, which is an attraction in itself. The routes, and there are only three of them, are laid rather intricately, but encircle the entire Porto, and most pass through the historical center, which will allow you to enjoy the views of the city while traveling from one end of the city to the other;
the bus is a popular and very common mode of transport that covers Porto, buses are combined with metro and tram interchanges. There are even three regular routes to the airport, which makes getting around the city much easier. Several buses also run at night, and there will be no problems getting to the hotel;
A bicycle is a growing mode of transport that can be rented at dozens of rental points. There is one caveat for Porto - due to the hilly terrain, it will be quite difficult to move around on a bike, especially for an unprepared person;
taxis - black and green and cream cars are everywhere, and their cost is quite democratic. You can call a car by phone or catch it on the street - the price will not differ. Taxi drivers are perhaps the most polite and there are very few cases of fare cheating;
car rental - despite the size of Porto, there are traffic jams and difficult traffic, but there are a lot of free parking lots throughout the city, and on paid ones the cost does not “bite” much. Both international and national car rental companies operate in the city. It is worth taking a car if you plan to visit the picturesque suburbs, which is a must when visiting Northern Portugal.

Residence

So historical city, where kings and aristocracy lived, offers a wide range of hotels of various classes, many of which are located in ancient mansions and residences. All types of hotels are represented in Porto - from exclusive five-star hotels like Torel Avantgarde to hostels for 10 Euros per day. At the same time, you can settle in any part of the city, since it is small, and a well-developed public transport network will allow you to quickly get to your place of residence. In Porto, there are hotels of all the famous world chains - Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, as well as a huge number of large and small hotels with different levels of service and maintenance. In the very historical center, traditionally located the most expensive places living, and the farther to the outskirts, the lower the cost. In the suburbs there is also a large selection of decent hotels, and it will not be difficult to get from them to the center. Among the four-star hotels, you should pay attention to the Porto A.S. 1829 Hotel, as one of the oldest in the city, and the choice of three and two-star hotels is striking in its diversity, both in location and in prices. It is worth remembering that it is rather difficult to rent a room during the season, and therefore it is better to book it in advance so as not to overpay.

Connection

Ordinary telephone communication is quite common in Porto, not only in hotels, restaurants, but also just on the streets - calls to Russia are quite inexpensive, and there are additional discounts at night. Mobile operators of local and international scale are widely represented in the city, and the coverage provides a normal connection anywhere in Porto. Wireless Internet access Wi-Fi is available almost everywhere, and it is usually free - in hotels, restaurants and bars, shopping malls, by public transport, near most attractions. Traffic allows you to easily track changes in in social networks, chat via Skype, watch streaming video.

1. Be sure to ride rare trams around the city center, look at all the sights.
2. Visit the famous bookstore Livraria Lello, which has become the prototype of many places from the famous Harry Potter novel. Here you can buy a variety of books, any subject and direction.
3. Another place to mandatory attendance- a small aristocratic Café Majestic, which was once a gathering place for the aristocracy and bohemians, and now pleases with reasonable prices, original interiors and delicious dishes.
4. Enjoy public transport with an Andante card - an analogue of a travel card with a limited validity period, but it makes it possible to save a lot while moving around the city, especially if you want to see as many interesting places as possible.
5. In winter and autumn, you should always carry an umbrella with you, as winds and rains can occur quite suddenly.
6. When using a taxi, it is better to choose a driver who knows English and is easier to negotiate with. Cars of all services have meters, but sometimes the driver can wind more laps to increase the cost of the trip.
7. Climb the Clerigos Tower, 75 meters high, which can be seen from anywhere in Porto and is a symbol of the city. Entrance to the observation deck costs about 2 euros.
8. Walk along the Ponte de Dona Maria Pia and Ponte di Don Luis Pervo, bridges designed and built by Eiffel and his student Seyrig before construction of the famous tower in Paris began.
9. For those who do not have much time for a detailed inspection of all the sights of Porto, a sightseeing boat trip along the Douro River is perfect, which will help you get acquainted with the main sights of the city and, at the same time, save time.

Porto on the map, panorama

Perhaps the most striking and memorable place in Portugal is the city of Porto. It was Porto that gave the name to the country of Portugal, because it was once the capital of the country. From him, the drink port wine got its name. In general, Porto is the capital of the country's wine industry. When people talk about Portuguese wine, they mean the wine of Porto.

Walking through the labyrinth of narrow streets, between houses built in the Art Nouveau and Baroque styles, you can enjoy the splendor and color of this ancient city. On a bright, sunny day, the city literally glows with joy and fun. And when, from the side of the river, fog creeps into Porto, the city seems to be covered with a damp blanket, turning it into a gloomy and mysterious place.

Porto is the second largest city in the country and its former capital. This The largest city and port of northern Portugal. It is located 270 kilometers from Lisbon - the modern capital of Portugal. As the center of the municipality and district of Porto, this city is spread on the right bank of the Duero River and covers an area of 42 square kilometers. Porto is divided into five historical districts, each of which has its own unique beauty. The population of the city is 240,000 inhabitants, most of whom are Portuguese. The food industry is developed, especially winemaking and fish canning. As well as mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, clothing and chemical industries. In addition, Porto is an important cultural and educational center, with a major university.

The history of Porto begins in the 5th century, when the Romans came here and founded the city of Portus Calais, which later gave the name to the entire region - Portugal. In the VIII century, the city was captured and plundered by the Moors. The city became Moorish until the 10th century, when it was conquered by Henry of Burgundy, who founded the county of Portucalia here, which later became a kingdom. To strengthen the power of Christians, by order of Henry of Burgundy, in 982, the construction of the Cathedral began in Porto. In 1050, Porto became the main trading port of the region, on the way of important trade routes. And in 1147, Bishop Hugo announced a crusade against Lisbon, to free the future capital of the country from the power of the Moors.

In order to successfully fight against their main enemy and rival, Castile, in 1386 the Treaty of Windsor with England was signed in Porto, which completely untied the hands of English merchants. They forced the authorities of Porto in 1703 to sign a trade treaty giving the British a complete monopoly on Portuguese port wine. In the Age of the Great geographical discoveries When Portugal becomes a starting point for exploration of new lands, Porto becomes an important shipbuilding port.

Throughout its history, Porto has been distinguished by its freedom-loving and wayward character. The trade guild has always held the main power here. And until the XVII century in Porto there was a ban on the construction of aristocratic palaces in the city. Moreover, the law even applied to the King of Portugal. The townspeople even managed to force the authorities to make concessions to some civil liberties, and the Inquisition in Porto had very little power. Periodically, major uprisings and riots broke out in the city. It was in Porto that the first liberal party was formed, whose goal was to overthrow the monarchy. In 1822, the first Constitution was proclaimed in Porto. And soon, the first uprising of the Republicans broke out here against the power of the dictator Salazar.

The weather in the city of Porto is set by the warm Atlantic Gulf Stream. Thanks to him, Porto has warm and mild winters with a minimum temperature of +9 degrees Celsius. And moderate not stuffy summer with a temperature of +20 degrees Celsius.

The city of Porto has its own major airport, so it can be reached from Moscow by plane. However, with a change in Brussels, Geneva or Madrid. You can book a plane ticket to Porto via the Internet by selecting the required class and flight rates. Regular buses and taxis run from the airport to the city center. You can also rent a car, subject to the required driving experience (one year) and your age (21 years).

Before you travel to Porto, you need to make a reservation at one of the city's many hotels. Without this, you will not get a visa to the country. You can book a room via the Internet, choosing the hotel that best suits your needs and financial capabilities. All hotels in Porto differ in terms of comfort levels, rates and their location relative to the attractions of the city.

Porto has many attractions of various eras and styles, from the city's residential buildings to majestic temples. Some of the sights are protected by UNESCO.

The Clerigos Tower is called the symbol of the city of Porto, as it is the most beautiful and conspicuous building in the city, and is also the most high tower in Portugal. The height of the Clerigos tower exceeds 75 meters, and at one time it was an excellent reference point for merchant ships entering the port. The construction of the tower began in 1754, according to the design of the architect Nicolas Nasoni, and ended in 1763. Next to the tower, stands the church of Igreju dos Clerigos, in which Nicholas Nasoni rests. This church is notable for its unusual oval shape and a huge wall-length azulejo panel.

One of the main attractions of the city is the Cathedral of Porto. The huge gray building of the cathedral stands proudly on one of the hills of the city. The cathedral was built in the XII century, and together with the walls of the city, it used to be a defensive structure of Porto. Subsequently, the cathedral was repeatedly rebuilt, and lost its original appearance, becoming the center of a mixture of styles. The high bell towers of the cathedral not only give out its impressive age, but also give it an appearance medieval castle. The portal of the temple, rebuilt in the 18th century, is decorated with the ancient Romanesque symbol of the rose. And the youngest extension of the cathedral is the outer gallery, rebuilt in the Baroque style by the architect Nicolo Nasoni. The interior of the Cathedral was last changed in the 18th century. The temple has a baroque altar, which took as much as 800 kg of silver to create. During the Napoleonic wars, this altar was miraculously saved from the greedy French troops. And inside the cathedral there is a picturesque courtyard with an azulejo, made in the Rococo style.

Porto's most remarkable attraction is the large number of bridges across the Dora River. What is unique about these bridges is that built in the 19th century, these bridges were technological innovations of the time. Later, the technologies used to build the bridges of Porto were used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York. Particularly unusual is the two-level iron bridge Don Luis, built in 1886.

Another notable building in the city is the Exchange Palace. The building was built in 1842 by an organization of merchants in neoclassical style. The rich interior decoration of the building is striking. The richest room of the Exchange is the "Arab Hall", decorated in the style of Arabian fairy tales. Another interesting room is the "Patio of the Nations", which displays the coats of arms of all countries that have ever traded with the city of Porto.

There are many interesting museums in Porto. For example, located in the Serralves estate, the Museum of Modern Art. Built in 1930 by the architect Alvaro Siza Vieira, in the art deco style, the building of this museum is in perfect harmony with the surrounding park. It has a large collection of contemporary works of art. Other interesting place guided tour is the Quinta da Macieirinha Museum. Once the museum building was a palace where King Charles Albert spent the last months of his life. The museum is located on the second floor of the building. Carl-Albert's household and personal items are on display here, as well as antique French, Portuguese and German furniture. In addition, the museum has a collection of ceramics and tapestries. And on the first floor of the building there is the Institute of Port Wine, where you can taste various varieties of port wine.

Porto. City `s history.

Porto, the second largest city in Portugal with 500,000 inhabitants, gave its name not only to port wine, but to the whole country. Once on the left bank of the Douro was the Roman settlement of Portus (Latin for "harbour"), and on the right - Calais (Greek "kalos" - beautiful). According to the names of these villages, the Moors began to call the country between the Douro and Minho - Portucale. After the expulsion of the Arabs in the 11th century, the Christian county of Portucalia arose here, which later became the kingdom of Portugal.

Porto has always lived for trade. In 1050, it became the most important economic center in the north of the country; in the 13th and 14th centuries, it maintained maritime trade relations with England, Flanders, and the cities of the Hansa.

Close relations with England, on whose support the king counted in the fight against the hostile Castile, were strengthened by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 and the marriage of King Juan I with the Englishwoman Philip de Lencastre, held in the cathedral in Porto. In 1394, their son was born in Porto, who later became Henry the Navigator.

English merchants who traded in colonial goods such as tobacco and sugar have long felt at home in Porto. Even today, British influence remains in the city, the roots of which are in the infamous enslaving treaty with England in 1703. This treaty opened up the English market for Portuguese wines and gave English merchants a monopoly on the sale of port wine. Until now, some of the major producers of port wine have English names.

In contrast to Lisbon, the tone in Porto has always been set by the urban merchant elite. From the early Middle Ages until the 17th century, there was a law that forbade aristocrats to build palaces here and generally stay in the city for more than three days. Even the king did not have his residence in Porto and lived as a guest in Bishop's Palace. The city succeeded in wresting many civil liberties from the bishop, but resistance to the Lisbon authorities was, of course, unsuccessful. For example, a protest against a wine trading company founded by the Marquis de Pombal was suppressed by force, and the governor-general João de Almada was sent to Porto. However, he himself and his son Francisco did a lot of good for the city. It is to them that Porto owes the success of the work on the improvement and expansion of the city in the second half of the 18th century.

In the 19th century, Porto was a stronghold of liberal forces whose activities led to the overthrow of the monarchy. Here in 1822 the first constitution was proclaimed. In Porto, the first, albeit unsuccessful, uprising of the Republicans took place. The dictatorial regime of Salazar from the very beginning did not enjoy any popularity in this city.

Now Porto is an industrial center, and its Leixoes harbor is the second largest port in Portugal. Citizens are distinguished by their diligence and unpretentiousness. Every Portuguese knows the saying: "In Lisbon they go out, they work in Porto, they study in Coimbra, and they pray in Braga."

Porto, which gave its name to the country (and to the drink port), is the second largest city in Portugal after Lisbon.
This is a very old city, founded in the 12th century. it is located 270 km north of Lisbon. He is called northern capital Portugal.
The central part of Porto is the main attraction. The city is old, unusual and very interesting. Of course, the city has a lot of "official" attractions, many beautiful churches, a very interesting railway station, a stunning embankment, and, of course, wine cellars. I will show all this later, but today we will just walk around the city.

The historical center of Porto is located on the right bank of the Douro River, a few kilometers from its confluence with the Atlantic Ocean. The city center has been declared a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
In the historical center of the city there is a cathedral of the 13th century. - Church of San Francisco (Saint Francis). One of the most striking sights of Porto is the baroque tower of Clerigos - the highest in Portugal - 76 meters or 225 steps. Construction under the direction of the Italian architect Niccolò Nasoni was started in 1754 and completed in 1763. From modern buildings stands out for its unusual shape House of Music.

And another very important attraction of Porto are its bridges.

There are many bridges across the Dora that connect Porto with the satellite town of Vila Nova de Gaia. Some of them are unique technological solutions for their time. For example, the Ponte de Dona Maria Pia railway bridge, built in 1876-1877 according to the design of Gustave Eiffel, was one of the first projects that brought worldwide fame to its author. Later, the same technological solutions were used by Eiffel in the construction of the Statue of Liberty (1884-1886) and the Eiffel Tower (1889). Another unique building for its time was the two-level metal bridge Ponte de Don Luis, built in 1881-1886 according to the project of Eiffel's student and companion Theophilus Seyrig.
It was built according to the project of the student and companion of Gustave Eiffel Theophile Seyrig in 1886. Named after King Luis I.

Ponte de Don Luis is a kind of symbol of the city of Porto. His image can often be found on the labels of local port wine.
The bridge has a length of 385.25 m and weighs 3045 tons, while the length of the arched span is 172 m, and its height is 44.6 m.

Straight ahead is the Kliregush tower.

In front of us is the Church of Do Carmo. This very pretty temple in the architectural spirit of classicism and baroque was erected in the middle of the 18th century by the architect José Fgueiredo Seikas. The stone facade is decorated with sculptures of the prophets Elijah and Elisha and statues of the four evangelists by the Italian Baroque master Nicolau Nasoni. Another notable part of the decor is a huge mosaic canvas of pale blue color depicting scenes of the founding of the Carmelite Order.

Porto was the first city in the Iberian Peninsula to have a tram service. In Porto and Lisbon, there are such small trams. Others simply will not turn around in the narrow streets of cities.

The Clerigos Church was built by the architect Nicola Nasoni between 1732 and 1750. The church was erected specifically for the brotherhood of Clerics. Over time, the architect himself joined the Brotherhood, and after his death rests in the church crypt.
The Clérigos tower is behind this church, but was not included in the frame from this angle.

Church and Tower of Clerigos.

The monument to Pedro IV, the first king of Brazil and Portugal, is located on Liberty Square in the city center.

Monument to the paperboy

The majestic and beautiful Cathedral of Se in Porto rises above the city. This is the oldest cathedral in Porto, built in the Romanesque style.
The cathedral was erected as a fortress and the whole city was built around it.
The most valuable thing in the cathedral is its altar, on which 800 kg of silver was used. Wonderful patio with azulejos, big square with great observation deck, where there are viewing binoculars to admire the red roofs of houses and the Douro River.

An interesting feature of postal addresses in Porto is that they do not have house numbers. The names of the streets, as a rule, are not written on the houses either, only at the beginning and at the end of the street. And it happens that just at the beginning of the street there is a column with a sign on which its name is written. Everything. It is not mentioned anywhere else.
Along the street, not houses are numbered, but front doors - entrance doors. End-to-end numbering along the entire street. You can see it in this picture - the numbers above the doors. Further, the address will read, for example: second floor, 1st apartment on the right.
And nothing, they find.
There was a case. We took a taxi and went to look at the ocean (it is 7 km from the city), namely, at sunset - how beautifully the sun sets into the sea. They let the taxi go, admired the sunset, and then decided to walk to the hotel on foot and got lost. When we tried to orient ourselves on the map, where we were, it turned out that it was completely impossible to do this. We decided that it would be better for us to look not for the place of our current location, but immediately for our hotel. Again, a bummer - the Portuguese, very friendly people, waving their arms, enthusiastically told us the way, but following the narration in Portuguese and taking advice, as it turned out, is also unrealistic. Meanwhile, things were moving towards evening, even towards night, and the question of returning home became acute. It's impossible to catch a taxi just like that - you have to call to the specified address. We saw a ballet school, went to the "light" to ask them to call us a taxi to their address (at least they know it).
It ended up that one of the ballerinas took us to the hotel in her car. Looking out the car window at the road, we realized that we ourselves would not have reached there in life, and upon arrival at the hotel there were no people happier than us.

A characteristic feature of Portuguese architecture is the tiling of buildings. This is not only beautiful, but also very useful - in summer, tiles protect houses from heat, in the off-season - from dampness. Houses in Portugal most often do not have heating, so in all seasons the laundry is dried on the street.

In this photo we see the exit to the embankment of the Douro River. I will show it in another post, and at the same time we will ride on a boat on it.

On the left is the Cathedral of St. Francis, on the right is the Bolsa Palace. The Palace of Bolsa is the Stock Exchange and also the place to come to admire the palace interiors, created by the local architect Joaquim da Costa Lima Juniordla in the middle of the 19th century for ordinary merchants. Now it is a kind of museum, where the exhibits: various sculptures, frescoes, paintings, furniture, dishes and others are specially selected and fit into the interiors of the halls. So, the Arab Hall with golden arabesques, the Courtyard of Nations under an octagonal glass dome, the Tribunal Hall, the Assembly Hall, the Golden Hall and the stairs made of granite and marble look the most attractive. Debited from the Internet, because we did not go inside. Well, maybe one of the readers will be interested and visit.