Porto, as the Portuguese themselves call this city. City of Porto, Portugal: attractions, description and interesting facts. Entertainment and holidays

Porto is a city of port wine and football, a city of high arched bridges and noisy coastal bars, a city of unsightly and dirty streets, the city that gave its name to Portugal. So much has been written about Porto that trying to tell something new is a thankless task. But I’ll still try to tell and show.

The city is located north of on the right bank of the Douro River, which stretches almost 900 kilometers across the entire Iberian Peninsula.

The history of the city goes back to the Romans; it was from those times that Porto began to develop, first as a port, and then as industrial city. Moreover, over the past two millennia it has not lost any of its port charm, but more on that below...

Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and is often called the northern capital.

One of the most recognizable symbols of the city is the Ponte de Don Luis bridge, built in late XIX century by Theophilus Seyrig, a student of that same Gustave Eiffel. The bridge connects the two banks of the Douro River. The bridge is two-level: on the upper level, at a height of 45 meters, there is a metro line, while the lower tier, located directly above the water, is intended for cars.

But the most famous symbol of Porto is, of course, the famous fortified wine - port.

Only wine produced on the banks of the Douro River can be called port. This provision is enshrined in the legislative acts of Portugal and the European Union. So the Soviet “Three Axes” and other similar surrogate liquids, of course, not only have nothing to do with the noble sweet drink, but also borrowed its name completely illegally.

By the way, contrary to the opinion of the majority, port wine is not produced in Porto - the world-famous cellars in which oak barrels of wine are aged are located on the opposite bank from Porto - in the city of Vila Nova de Gaia.

Previously, in order not to disturb the transport of wine along the rough Portuguese roads, it was transported from the vineyards to the cellars in barrels on flat-bottomed cargo boats with a square sail. In memory of those times, today you can see many moored boats, just opposite the cellars. Some of the boats have been converted into restaurants, at the tables of which you can endlessly sit and enjoy the fresh wind from the Atlantic accompanied by the pleasant sweet notes of fortified wine sparkling in a glass.

A few words about transport. In Porto, as well as in, there are old, rattling trams.

There is also more modern transport here. For example, the city metro is more like a tram.

A funicular line is laid along the old fortress wall from the Douro bank to the top.

The fortress wall also appeared here not by chance - at the very beginning of the reconquista, Porto occupied a border position. The border between Muslim lands and the newly autonomous Portuguese county ran along the Douro River.

The funicular runs quite rarely - the operator waits until the cabin is filled to capacity with people, like a jar of sprats.

Well, probably the most interesting view urban transport - a cable car connecting the site next to the Ponte de Don Luis bridge and the embankment of the Douro River next to the wine cellars.

Although, of course, this is no longer Porto, but Vila Nova de Gaia, but it is still very interesting.

And it’s interesting because just with this cable car In my opinion, the best view of the historical part of Porto opens up.

The bishop's palace rises monumentally above the densely clustered residential buildings.

Next to it on the hillside is the ancient district of Bairro da Se - it is the poorest and at the same time the most picturesque quarter of Porto.

The embankment is lined with many small open-air restaurants that seem to be filled with drunken fun around the clock.

In the meantime, it's time to look at Porto from above. The best place for this purpose - the observation tower of the Clérigos Church.

Its bell tower is the tallest in Portugal. For a long time it was a landmark for ships arriving from the Atlantic.

A narrow staircase of 225 steps leads upstairs.

Let's take a breath at one of the sites... We have only reached the roof level so far.

Well, here we are at the top.

We look at Porto.

We see red roofs descending in ledges to the banks of the Douro. We see Vila Nova de Gaia located on the far shore. We see wine cellars occupying almost the entire opposite bank of the river.

We see neat, brand new roofs.

We see that there are picturesque ruins right in the center of Porto.

We see that the slopes of the hills on which Porto is located are quite steep, and sometimes you need to sweat a lot to climb the many steps.

We see modern blocks rising in the distance.

We see that huge parks and squares covered with green tree crowns stretch to the west all the way to the Atlantic.

All. We've seen enough of Porto from above. We continue to walk the streets.

Please note that entire facades of houses can be decorated here with blue tiles.

Let's feel the atmosphere of the Bairro da Se quarter, over which the bell tower of the Clérigos Church, which we visited a little earlier, rises like a mighty phallus.

The houses here are tall and the streets are narrow and dirty. It’s stuffy between the houses, the air seems to have frozen, having absorbed many aromas, ranging from the smells of cheap food coming from nowhere to the outright stench, so familiar from our native St. Petersburg pissed elevators. The feeling that from a civilized European country suddenly you find yourself in a poor Asian one.

Laundry is hung on the streets. From time to time you come across very dubious personalities whom you really wouldn’t want to meet on a dark street under the cover of darkness.

In general, it’s a real port city. The only things missing for a more ambiance are drunken sea wolves and cheap port prostitutes. Although, maybe I just didn’t look well?

I look more closely and begin to understand that the city is amazing!

...or one day in the city that gave its name to the country .
Despite the fact that I left the story about the northern capital of Portugal, the city of Porto, to the end, visiting this beautiful city was the very middle of our Great Portuguese Motor Rally "And I left it for a snack because Porto is so cool that it needs to be taken to a separate “hall of fame” and placed on a special shelf. If you have enough time and can afford two weeks to get to know Portugal, you You are free to choose the location for this city, but if you only have one day to grab yourself a piece of Portugal, then you should choose Porto. You don’t have to go to the cliffs of Albufeira, skip Lisbon, or climb 2000 meters to Torre Sierra. Estrela, you may not even see Sintra, Evora and Coimbra, but you cannot ignore Porto! Porto is one of the most interesting and remarkable cities in Portugal, as well as the second city in the country in terms of population. Moreover, it was Porto that gave its name not only to the entire country. but also the famous fortified wine Port.

Porto is one of the oldest cities in Europe, the former capital of the country and the current capital of port wine. It's lively industrial centre, the historical part of which, continuously inhabited since at least the 4th century, has received UNESCO site status World Heritage in 1996. Unlike others major cities country, the center of Porto is not so much baroque as granite and monumental. The history of Porto dates back to around 300 BC. e. from Proto-Celtic and Celtic people being the first famous residents. Ruins from this period have been discovered in several areas. Near modern Porto there was also a Gallek settlement. The Roman general Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus conquered the city around 136 BC.
The Romans named the city Portus Cale, that is, a beautiful port. This name was later transformed into Portucale, which later gave the name to the entire country - Portugal.
We drove to Porto from the Busacu Palace, about the night in which I. Due to thick fog, we did not waste time at the top of Cruz Alto and were in Porto early in the morning. In the end, it took us exactly a day to get to the city, which was both enough and a little too short. Considering we’ve been on Portuguese soil for almost a week, we’ve already absorbed enough of the local flavor, and therefore we didn’t waste time sitting dumbly on the embankment, but immediately began to get to know the city closely.

When we flew into the suburbs of Porto at a speed of 165 km/h, the clouds were just rising and there was a noticeable breeze of freshness from the ocean. Having crossed the Douro River, in the valley of which grapes for the famous port wine are grown, we turned towards the center and immediately came across cars standing along the cliff. Free parking 10 minutes from the center. I should stop and look at the bridges.

And we left the car five minutes from Ponte Luis. Looking ahead, I will say that we never overtook it, because in the center where we lived it was very sad with parking, and the subway for 25 euros seemed a little expensive. So the car spent the night on the embankment between the bridges.

And here it is the real Porto with its own flavor, which is not found in any other city in Portugal.

The inhabitants of Porto were and continue to be called “tripeiros” - “offal eaters”. Its soup is still a signature delicacy of the city. At the same time, the townspeople are culturally set apart from the rest of Portugal, and here you can often hear the phrase: “Porto is a nation.”

On the opposite side of the river, there is a monastery and, as it were, another city - Vila Nova di Gaia, although it is perceived as a district, part of Porto.

It is from Vila Nova di Gaia that you need to start getting acquainted with Porto. It's better to start from the embankment. Then climb up observation deck and enjoy the views of the city, which is more than 2300 years old. We cross to the other side via the Luis 1st Bridge.

Somewhere there, almost half a kilometer away, we threw our “penny” and heavy things.

As you move along the bridge, the city begins to open up from new angles. Porto is great!

For seven centuries, until 1956, wine was transported to Vila ova de Gaia on picturesque flat-bottomed sailing ships called barcos rabelos. Now this is done by railway. But the Barkosh Rabelos boats are still a symbol of the city.

Lots and lots of barcos rabelos on the Porto promenade. I deliberately do not say Villa Nova de Gaia, because this is a formality, in fact it is a single city, united with its suburbs into a large municipality with a population exceeding the number of inhabitants of modern Latvia. 2,400,000 inhabitants! Therefore, I insist that Villa Nova de Gaia is an area of Porto, the embankment opposite the center.

I’ll tell you about port wine itself, its production and other things in the next publication. Today we’re going for a walk.

Along the embankment there are countless cellars where port wine of all famous and most unknown brands is stored. You can go to the cellars like a museum and look at the stacks of barrels.

Barrels on Barkosh Rabelosh props for the surroundings. Every self-respecting port wine house must have a couple of boats with barrels at the pier. Otherwise it’s somehow not solid. There are also utilitarian walking trails there.

I walked to the very end of the embankment to the distant cellars. In appearance, these are typical warehouse hangars from prehistoric times.

The most beautiful thing across the river is the center of Porto, the Ribeira district, where tripeiros live. The name of the area came from them. Tripeiros are tripe eaters. It just so happened that hard-working fishermen were always poor, and after selling the fish, they only got fish entrails. Now this is no longer a fishing area, and you won’t see boats with nets here, but it’s incredibly colorful.

The photo below shows an old tram, which is 80 years old and has the first number. No others. It goes all the way to the ocean, the trip costs 4 euros. The interior is wooden, with two cabins.

Inesa went to the observation deck by cable car, I went on foot, it was important for me to photograph what fascinated me about the appearance of the old city.

It took me a good half an hour to get up to the monastery’s platform. The steep streets are skillfully hidden from strangers; without the navigator on my phone, I would not have found the way up.

But there is still a long way to go. While we are admiring the views of Porto.

The city has a special aura. Porto is charming, cozy and compact. You won't need public transport. Ditch the car behind the bridges and walk forward.

Pay attention to the Ponte Luis bridge, it is two-tiered. Below are cars and people, above are trains previously and the metro now. Although the metro looks more like an overweight tram, this does not change the essence. And under the bridge there are dozens of barkosh rabeloshes.

Look at the colorful houses with two windows in the first row on the embankment. Isn't this lovely?

We will reach the rough side of the road in the late afternoon.

The tiered buildings are incredibly picturesque and photogenic. Especially from a distance. I put on Zuiko 40-150 so as not to twist the pancake to the maximum.

In the photo below we see several attractions of Porto. This is the bell tower of the Clérigos Church, the highest in Portugal, which served as a beacon and landmark for sailors in the last century, this is the Cathedral, and the episcopal palace-residence. (white building)

Look at the top row of windows of the bishop's palace. We will return to the middle window later.

Whether long or short, I return to the bridge to begin my ascent to the observation deck. This bridge is not easy. Bridge of Don Luis (Ponte de Dom Luis). The bridge over the Douro River is one of the symbols of Porto. The lower tier of the bridge is for cars, on the upper tier there is a metro in the middle part, and pedestrians along the edges. The metro runs quite rarely, so pedestrians can easily cross from one side of the bridge to the other - from them different types

. That's what I did, by the way. The 385 m long bridge connects Porto and its southern suburb, Vila Nova de Gaia. The height of the bridge is 44 m. By design, it is a metal arch bridge, the longest bridge of its type in the world.

It was built from 1881 to 1886 according to the design of Théophile Seyrig, Gustave Eiffel's partner and student. They say Eiffel himself made some amendments to the finished project, which won the construction competition due to its low cost and began to bear the name of King Louis the First.

Poor area of Porto.

Well, where is my Neska? The funicular is stupid. 300 meters of pleasure, although saving energy.

From the top, Porto is even more beautiful.

A couple of kilometers away, around the bend of the river, in its delta you can meet dolphins. After all, the ocean already begins there and they swim into fresh water to hunt fish.

In principle, here is all the Porto that interests us. It is not that huge and two days for the city is enough.

This is the same metro, a double carriage going along the Don Luis Bridge, although it is also called the Eiffel Bridge.

It is very difficult to force a non-photographer to photograph you the way you want.

Roofs of cellars.

The bridge is all steel and echoing. We walk there, we walk back. There along the lower tier, back along the top. You must cross the bridge. After all, at the very end-beginning there is an observation deck with beautiful view

to the city.

Go ahead.

After an hour or more, we eventually enter the historic Ribeira district.

From the Douro embankment (Ribeira station, almost under the Don Luis Bridge) you can climb the cliff in a couple of minutes and €2.50. The Batalha upper station is 300 m from the São Bento train and metro station, at the same altitude. The funicular serves as a tourist attraction, but if you don't mind the money, this is a pretty good way to save energy and time if you need to climb from the river to the level of the upper tier of the bridge. In my opinion, it’s boring, and really going nowhere.

Hiking routes are much more picturesque. Nobody used the funicular in our time, and we didn’t see it at all.

Not the richest Portuguese live under the bridge.

In the upper left corner of the picture you can see the platform from which we are walking.

Silent question.

Below you can already see the famous Sao Bento train station.

But we examine everything in order. And first along the way we have a Romanesque cathedral and views from its entrance.

Our next destination was the Clérigos bell tower. Here in the cathedral you can buy a single ticket for three locations. Cathedral and Museum, Clérigos Tower, and Episcopal Palace with a guided tour. Free entry there is no entry, you need to fill in the time and go with a guide.

First the cathedral. The cathedral was rebuilt from old fortress in the XII-XVIII centuries,

Entrance to the cathedral itself is free.

The Romanesque Cathedral, one of the oldest and one of the most prominent buildings in Porto, was built from the early 12th to the 13th centuries. The facade of the cathedral consists of two square towers with unusual domes (made in 1772), between which there is a Romanesque rose window. The entrance portal was built in the same 1772 in the Baroque style. The interior retains the nave and Romanesque columns, but almost all of the interior decoration is Baroque. To the south of the cathedral is an originally Gothic cloister.

The history of Porto dates back to the Roman Portocale, which existed in the 5th century, but there were settlements on this site much earlier. At the beginning of the 8th century it was captured and destroyed by the Moors, and at the end of the 10th century these lands were liberated by Prince Henry of Burgundy. By his order, construction of a cathedral began here in 982. In 1147, the bishop of Porto, Dom Hugo, organized the English, German and flagship crusaders on a sea campaign against Lisbon. They helped Afonso Henriques liberate the future capital of Portugal from the Moors. During the era of geographical discoveries, Portugal became the most important maritime and trading power in Europe, and Porto became its main port and shipbuilding center.

From its very foundation, Porto has been a freedom-loving, independent city. There were often riots and uprisings here, and even the Inquisition did not have much power in Porto. In 1757, residents rebelled against the wine monopoly imposed by the Marquis of Pombal (to rebuild Lisbon after the earthquake). In 1832, Porto was the center of the Dom Miguel's struggle for power, and in 1878 the first republican elections were held here.

We liked the cathedral. Something between a fortress, a monastery and a palace. It's worth its three euros.

I was a little stuck in this picture. What's on the plate? I see a dog here. Explain how and what?

And of course I’ll azulez whole walls.

And in chests of drawers like these with many drawers, the saints put bills.

This is what the observation deck looks like at the entrance to the cathedral, and on the right is the entrance to the bishop’s palace, but our excursion is in a couple of hours, so we’re going to have lunch at the Clérigos bell tower, and I’ll tell you about the palace in general in the next publication.

The seagulls here are unusually impudent.

For food, we chose a small cafe with a chef who didn’t speak English but fed us deliciously and not expensively.

Cathedral from below.

And Porto on top. Right below me is the same cafe.

And then we wandered to the Clérigos Church through the streets of Ribeira.

Personally, I just love places like this. A real non-tourist Porto with locals, its own rhythm and lack of glamour.

Here the narrow streets have their own life.

This is where we go from the cathedral. You can simply wander along landmarks without a navigator.

While we were meandering, we came across an “observation deck” mentioned somewhere on the Internet. By chance, but I immediately remembered her. A place for informals, apparently.

It's not very clean here, but during the day it's tolerable.

From here you can clearly see the Villa Nova de Gaia area.

But best view, for my taste, towards the Episcopal Palace and the Don Luis-Eiffel Bridge.

Tytstytsty, alcohol, vodka, cigarettes?

Yes, we were here, we drank Sandeman, ate tripe, and generally fell in love with Porto.

Some kind of lilac street....

We almost reached Clérigos.

Here begins a more modern area, wide streets, cars, trams, banks and offices.

But the unique atmosphere of Porto still remains here.

And here she is Torre dos Clérigos.

The church itself is decorated inside with multi-colored marble, no external paints. This is the Catholic Church of Clerigos with a bell tower (Torre dos Clerigos), which is the tallest in Portugal (76 meters) and the symbol of Porto. For a long time it was a reference point for sailors. We're heading upstairs.

To get to the tower and bell tower you need to walk along a very narrow staircase. Two people cannot separate. With a backpack it’s generally an ambush. We created a couple of traffic jams. But at turns a little wider and pressing against the wall, those going down were allowed to pass.

The tower has two levels. That is, there are higher and lower. Several tourists were very surprised when we emerged from the wall, descending from the top and immediately rushing up.

Everything from Porto is in full view. In principle, there are enough views from here and apart from the site on the other side of the river, you don’t need to look for anything else.

Orange tiles, colored houses, colorful and bright.

Some houses are very tiny and squeezed into some cracks.

Here is almost all of Ribeira in one frame.

This East End cities.

This is the northern...

Suddenly you couldn’t believe that we climbed 70 meters along the old stone steps. So here's your proof. In the next part, evening Porto, the embankment, and port wine, of course.

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. The drink port wine got its name from it. In general, Porto is the capital of the country's wine industry. When people talk about Portuguese wine, they mean Porto wine.

Walking through the labyrinth of narrow streets, between houses built in 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 fog creeps into Porto from the river, it seems to cover the city 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. Being the center of the municipality and district of Porto, this city spreads along 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 city has a population of 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 large 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 8th century, the city was captured and plundered by the Moors. The city became Moorish until the 10th century, when it was reconquered by Henry of Burgundy, who founded the County of Portugal, which later became a kingdom. To strengthen the power of Christians, by order of Henry of Burgundy, in 982 they began to build the Cathedral in Porto. In 1050, Porto became the region's main commercial port, on the route of important trade routes. And in 1147, Bishop Hugo declared a Crusade against Lisbon to liberate the future capital of the country from the power of the Moors.

To successfully fight its main enemy and rival, Castile, the Treaty of Windsor with England was signed in Porto in 1386, which completely freed the hands of English merchants. They forced the Porto authorities in 1703 to sign a trade treaty giving the British a complete monopoly on Portuguese port wine. In the era 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 capricious character. The main power here has always been the trade guild. And until the 17th century, there was a ban on the construction of aristocratic palaces in the city in Porto. Moreover, the law even applied to the King of Portugal. The townspeople even managed to force the authorities to make concessions on 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, the goal of which was to overthrow the monarchy. In 1822, the first Constitution was proclaimed in Porto. And soon, the first Republican uprising against the power of dictator Salazar broke out here.

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

The city of Porto has its own major airport, so you can get to it from Moscow by plane. True, with a transfer in Brussels, Geneva or Madrid. You can book a plane ticket to Porto online by selecting the required class and flight price. From the airport to the city center go Shuttle Buses and taxi. 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 will need to book a room at one of the many hotels in the city. Without this, you will not be able to get a visa to the country. You can book a room online by choosing the hotel that best suits your needs and financial capabilities. All Porto hotels vary in comfort levels, prices and their location relative to the city's attractions.

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

The Clérigos Tower is called the symbol of the city of Porto, since it is the most beautiful and noticeable building in the city, and is also the most high tower in Portugal. The height of the Clérigos tower exceeds 75 meters, and at one time it was an excellent landmark for merchant ships entering the port. Construction of the tower began in 1754, designed by the architect Nicolas Nasoni, and ended in 1763. Next to the tower stands the church of Igrejo dos Clérigos, in which Nicholas Nasoni is buried. This church is notable for its unusual oval shape and huge wall-length Azulejo panel.

One of the main attractions of the city is the Porto Cathedral. The huge gray cathedral building rises proudly on one of the hills of the city. The cathedral was built in the 12th century, and together with the city walls, it used to be a defensive structure for Porto. Subsequently, the cathedral was rebuilt several times and lost its original appearance, becoming the center of a mixture of styles. The high bell towers of the cathedral not only reveal its impressive age, but also give it its 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 external gallery, built in the Baroque style by the architect Nicolo Nasoni. Interior Cathedral last changed in the 18th century. The temple contains an altar made in the Baroque style, the creation of which took as much as 800 kg of silver. During the Napoleonic Wars, this altar was miraculously saved from the greedy French troops. And inside the cathedral there is a picturesque courtyard with azulejos, made in the Rococo style.

The most remarkable attraction of Porto is the large number of bridges over 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 Porto bridges were used in the construction Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Statue of Liberty in New York. The two-level iron bridge Don Luis, built in 1886, is especially unusual.

Another remarkable building in the city is the Exchange Palace. The building was built in 1842 by an organization of merchants, in a 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 Arabian tales. Another interesting room is the "Patio of Nations", where the coats of arms of all the countries that have ever traded with the city of Porto are displayed.

Quite a lot in Porto and interesting museums. For example, located in the Serralves estate, the Museum of Contemporary 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 houses a large collection of modern works of art. To others interesting place excursion is the Quinta da Masieirinha Museum. The museum building was once a palace where he spent recent months of his life, King Charles Albert. The museum is located on the second floor of the building. It displays Karl-Albert's household items and personal belongings, as well as antique French, Portuguese and German furniture. In addition, the museum displays a collection of ceramics and tapestries. And on the ground floor of the building there is the Port Wine Institute, where you can taste different types of port wine.

Porto is one of the oldest European cities, which has preserved in its appearance the features of various eras. Locals They say that Porto works for the whole country, and they are right. In the city great amount tourist places, industrial enterprises, places of trade and entertainment. The northern capital of Portugal, from which the state received its name, attracts with its many-sided image, deep antiquity and modernity, the flavor of antiquity and modernity. And finally, it is the capital of the world's most famous port wine, supplied to all countries, an attractive and unforgettable city, where the journey of many began. famous people past and present.

Geography

The northern capital of Portugal is located where the Douro (or Duero) River flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The distance to Lisbon is only 270 kilometers. Porto itself is located on the right bank of the river, while its suburbs are on the left. Development also occurs predominantly to the north and east, since in the west, just a few kilometers away, the ocean begins. The terrain where the city is located is quite hilly, with significant elevation changes - from the Dora embankment to highest points, more than 100 meters above sea level. This affected the architecture and the general layout of the streets, winding with many steps. The population of the city itself is just under 250 thousand people, but the entire Greater Porto agglomeration is inhabited by more than 2 million people. Despite its enormous 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 has remained historical, with its ancient center and newer parts of the city. There are 15 districts in the city, and they are located quite compactly. Porto is located on the prime meridian, and therefore the time does not differ from Greenwich.

Climate

Just a few kilometers along the straight Avenida da Boavista street separates the city from Atlantic Ocean, and therefore the climate here is completely maritime with the increased influence of the warm Gulf Stream current. Porto experiences frequent precipitation and minor storms, which traditionally occur in the winter months. At the same time, the heat in Porto is practically not felt, due to the fairly 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 below +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 changes in temperature, which occur almost imperceptibly, since over two months it falls (or rises) with stable indicators. 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, there may be virtually no temperature changes during the day, 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. Before the Roman conquest in 136 BC. it was an ordinary village, which was converted into a fort with various buildings of military and commercial significance - the name was given to Portus Cale. Over time, with changes in languages and pronunciations, this name became Portugal, as the entire country is called. After the conquest by the Visigoths in 540, a fortress was built here and a bishopric was founded, and the city became the center of a small region. Until 1096, when the city and the entire surrounding duchy were inherited by Henry of Burgundy, Porto was alternately under the rule of the Moors and the Kingdom of Leon. 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 João I and the British princess took place in Porto - which became the basis of the long-term contract about peace and partnership throughout European history - between England and Portugal. This document opened up unprecedented opportunities in trade with British Isles, and subsequently, with the British Empire.

In the process of its development, Porto, even having lost the title of capital of the kingdom, was constantly developing. In 1763, construction began on the famous Clérigos Tower, 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, Gustav Eiffel and his student worked in Porto, designing two famous metal bridges over the Douro River. In 1872, a permanent tram service opened between the city's districts. The only war that directly affected the city was the Napoleonic invasion in 1809, but it did not last long as the British quickly liberated Porto and it returned to peaceful life. Second World War bypassed the entire country, which was neutral and helped refugees.
The industrial revolution had a significant impact on the development of Porto - a large number of manufactories and enterprises were organized here, which formed the basis of today's industrial potential of the agglomeration. Porto has always been at the forefront of innovation, while remaining an authentic historical city whose entire center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Sights of Porto

The first thing 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 using tiles even more frequently in the 19th century, ushering in a golden age of Portuguese façade decoration. At first, tiles were painted by hand, but later, due to industrialization, manual work was replaced by mechanical printing of images. The most striking example of the use of Azulejo tiles is the Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas). The chapel was built in the 18th century and was nothing special. But in 1929, the walls of the chapel were decorated with 16 thousand azulejo tiles, after which this landmark of Porto became the “blue” 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 according to the design of Gustave Eiffel's student and companion - 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 upper one is for metro trains. There are pedestrian paths on both levels.
The calling card of the city of Porto is also the bell tower of the Church of the Brotherhood of Clerics. Construction architectural complex consisting of a church and a bell tower, it was started in 1732 by the church brotherhood, and completed in 1750. Various people worked on the construction of the ensemble, but especially noteworthy is Niccolò Nasoni and the mason Antonio Pereira. 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. With a height of 76 meters, the bell tower is the tallest church tower in Portugal. It is worth noting that it was in the Church of the Brotherhood of Clerics that the famous architect Niccolo Nasoni was buried.
The Church of Santo Ildefonso was built by an unknown architect between 1730 and 1737. Despite the discreet facade, the altar retablo demonstrates the sophistication and elegance of the building. The engraving work was carried out 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 patron - Saint Ildefonso, after whom the church was named.
Another attraction of Porto is the Church of Carmo and the Church of the Carmelites (Igrejas do Carmo and das Carmelitas). Their peculiarity is that these two churches are located so close to each other that they can be mistaken for a single building. The men's church of Carmo (located on the right) was built in the second half of the 18th century and designed by the architect José Fgueiredo Seicas. The façade, lined with stone, is crowned by a pediment, 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. It is noteworthy that 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.
São 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 famous events from the history of Portugal.

Events and festivals

Porto often hosts various events and celebrations dedicated to certain holidays. As the former capital of Portugal, the city celebrates national dates with some pomp, such as Independence Day (December 1) and Republic Day (October 5). At the same time, the city often hosts other festivals, mostly dedicated to religious holidays.
The most popular and colorful event in Porto is the Day of St. John, the patron saint of the city. Every year on June 23-24, the whole of Porto is decorated in festive colors, and 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 over the course of several days (or the whole December, in the case of the New Year holidays).
No less 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 wine was born. During the fairs, young and aged wines, the best varieties and brands of port and brandy are presented.
In addition to the main holidays, Porto constantly hosts various events dedicated to museums (Open Day), cinema (science fiction festival Fantasport), music, architecture, books and other areas of art.
In February, as throughout 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 come from all over the world to present their skills.

Restaurants and cafes

As throughout Portugal, Porto has a wide variety of establishments Catering- both ordinary cafes with minimal prices and expensive restaurants with Michelin stars. Local kitchen quite simple and satisfying, since, for the most part, it developed historically and is based on seafood. However, there is one dish that sets the city apart from all the others. Unofficially, the residents of Porto are called Tripeiros, literally “tripe eaters” - which many are proud of. Indeed, the local specialty is "Tripash" - made from beef tripe with a variety of vegetables. You also can’t ignore “feijoada” - meat cooked with rice and beans; “Francesinho” is an analogue of a sandwich with ham, fried beef and sausage with tomato-beer sauce. The bulk of the menu of any establishment consists of seafood, since 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 have a hearty and inexpensive meal and try some 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 many places where you can buy a variety of goods. Tourists are recommended to definitely visit the old and colorful Bolhao market, located on Ria de Sa da Bandeira, where fresh seafood, vegetables, fruits and a variety of goods are constantly sold. Porto has a large number of shopping centers, branded boutiques, shops and outlets, which represent both famous brands and local manufacturers. There are often family shops where you can buy various handicrafts. From northern capital You should definitely bring back from Portugal as a souvenir 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 organized;
Azulejos are famous ceramics, traditional only for Portugal. In Porto, almost everything is decorated with it - from the facades of buildings, to small boxes, key rings, chests and other utensils;
products made from cork 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 crafts made from cork, including shoes, bags, accessories;
jewelry - the heritage 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 products 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 they are distinguished by their originality and 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 brand stores.

How to get to Porto?

The only way to quickly get from Russia to distant Portugal is by plane - there are direct flights to Lisbon 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, receives planes from all over Europe, including low-cost airlines, but the remoteness of the country leaves its mark on the trip. From Lisbon you can travel by train and bus. These types of transport can also be reached from Russia, but with many transfers in large transport hubs, such as Zurich, Madrid, Barcelona and others. Travel time takes a very long time and is sometimes required transit visa for crossing some countries. On own car You can get to Porto, but it’s a bit difficult, even though the city is located on one of the most important highways on the Iberian Peninsula. You will have to cross at least five countries to get to Portugal. Still, the fastest means is aviation, be it 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 its rather hilly terrain. To this day in historical capital Portugal has an extensive public transport network:

metro - five lines laid under the city unite all its districts and allow access 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 a landmark in itself. The routes, and there are only three of them, are laid out quite intricately, but they 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;
Bus is a popular and very common form of transport that covers Porto, buses are connected to metro and tram interchange hubs. There are even three regular routes to the airport, which makes moving around the city much easier. There are also several buses running at night, so getting to the hotel will not be a problem;
Bicycles are a growing type of transport that can be rented at dozens of rental shops. 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, green and cream cars are everywhere, and their prices are quite affordable. 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 tariff increases;
car rental - despite the size of Porto, there are sometimes traffic jams and difficult traffic, but there are a lot of free parking all over the city, and on paid cost Doesn't bite much. There are both international and national car rental companies operating in the city. It's worth taking a car if you plan to visit the picturesque suburbs, which is a must when visiting Northern Portugal.

Accommodation

So historical city, where kings and aristocracy lived, offers a large selection 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 ones, like Torel Avantgarde, to hostels for 10 Euros per night. At the same time, you can settle in any part of the city, since it is small, and a developed public transport network will allow you to quickly get to your place of residence. Porto has hotels of all the world's famous chains - Hilton, Sheraton, Radisson, as well as a huge number of large and small hotels with varying levels of service and maintenance. In the very historical center, traditionally the most expensive places accommodation, and the further to the outskirts, the lower the cost. The suburbs also have a large selection of decent hotels, and getting from them to the center is not difficult. Among the four-star hotels, it is worth paying attention to the Porto A.S. hotel. 1829 Hotel is 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 quite difficult to rent a room during the season, so it is better to book it in advance so as not to overpay.

Connection

In Porto, regular telephone communication is quite common, not only in hotels, restaurants, but also just on the streets - calls to Russia are quite inexpensive, and at night there are additional discounts. Mobile operators of local and international scale are widely represented in the city, and 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 centers, on public transport, near most attractions. Traffic allows you to easily track changes in in social networks, communicate via Skype, watch streaming video.

1. Be sure to take a ride on rare trams around the city center and see all the sights.
2. Visit the famous Livraria Lello bookstore, which became the prototype for many places from the famous Harry Potter novel. Here you can purchase a variety of books of any subject and direction.
3. Another place for mandatory visit- a small aristocratic Café Majestic, which was once a gathering place for the aristocracy and bohemia, but is now a delight reasonable prices, original interiors and delicious dishes.
4. Use it public transport with an Andante card - an analogue of a travel card with a limited validity period, but it allows you 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 with whom it is easier to negotiate. The cars of all services have meters, but sometimes the driver can drive more laps to increase the cost of the trip.
7. Climb the Clérigos Tower, 75 meters high, visible from anywhere in Porto and a symbol of the city. Entrance to the observation deck costs about 2 euros.
8. Stroll along Ponte de Dona Maria Pia and Ponte di Dona Luis First, bridges designed and built by Eiffel and his student Seyrig before construction of the famous tower in Paris began.
9. For those who don’t have much time to explore all the sights in detail, Porto is perfect excursion walk by boat on the Douro River, which will help you get acquainted with the main attractions of the city and, at the same time, save time.

Porto on the map, panorama

Porto. City `s history.

Porto, the second largest city in Portugal with 500 thousand inhabitants, gave its name not only to port wine, but to the entire country. Once upon a time, on the left bank of the Douro there was a Roman settlement called Portus (Latin for “harbour”), and on the right bank was Calais (Greek “kalos” - beautiful). Based on 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 by trade. In 1050 it became the most important economic center in the north of the country, in the 13th and XIV centuries maintained maritime trade relations with England, Flanders and the cities of the Hanseatic League.

Close relations with England, on whose support the king counted in the fight against hostile Castile, were strengthened by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386 and the marriage of King John I to the Englishwoman Philippa de Lencastre, which took place 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 notorious enslaving treaty with England in 1703. This treaty opened the English market to Portuguese wines and provided English merchants with a monopoly position in the sale of port wine. Until now, some large port wine producing companies bear English names.

In contrast to Lisbon, the tone in Porto has always been set by the city's trading elite. From the early Middle Ages until the 17th century, there was a law prohibiting aristocrats from building palaces here and generally staying in the city for more than three days. Even the king did not have his own residence in Porto and lived as a guest in Bishop's Palace. The city managed to win 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 Governor General Joao 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 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. The first constitution was proclaimed here in 1822. The first, albeit unsuccessful, uprising of the Republicans took place in Porto. Salazar's dictatorial regime was not popular in this city from the very beginning.

Now Porto is an industrial center, and its harbor, Leixões, is Portugal's second largest port. The townspeople are distinguished by their hard work and unpretentiousness. Every Portuguese knows the saying: “They party in Lisbon, work in Porto, study in Coimbra, and pray in Braga.”

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