About Porto

The city of Porto rises between the mouth of the Douro River and the Atlantic Ocean. Capital of the North and second largest city in Portugal, its history goes back at least to Roman times, when it was called Portus Cale. This is where the origin of the name of our country dates back.

Over time, Porto has seen the birth of remarkable personalities and been at the center of events that changed the course of History. At the beginning of the 12th century, it became the capital of the Portucalense County. Later, in the 14th century, he received D. Filipa de Lencastre from England, to marry D. João I, parents of Infante D. Henrique, also born in Porto. In the 19th century, after the Civil War, D. Maria II thanked the inhabitants for their struggle and resistance, giving the city the title of Invicta, the only one in Portugal.
Known for the hospitality of its inhabitants, Porto requires time to get to know it and tell all its stories to those who enter the city.

Heritage, customs...
and francesinha

Humanity's cultural heritage

The Historic Center of Porto has been classified as a Cultural Heritage of Humanity, by UNESCO, since 1996. Between the streets and alleys, the area has an incomparable beauty and has so much to discover, that enumerating, or saying where to start, is an herculean task. From Aliados to Ribeira, from São Bento to Clérigos, Porto's heritage deserves to be appreciated from one end to the other.
However, not everything is History. For lovers of culture and customs, a visit to Porto in the first week of May includes the Queima das Fitas Parade, a parade of color and animation that marks the end of the academic year. For those who prefer to go in June, there are those who advise traveling in the final stretch of the month to enjoy São João night, the longest in the city. As for Gastronomy, any time of year is a good time to try the typical Francesinha.

Livraria Lello: one of the city’s jewels

Livraria Lello is one of Porto's ex-libris. Considered one of the most beautiful in the world, it is located at Rua das Carmelitas, number 144, and has been in existence for over 130 years.
Designed by engineer Xavier Esteves, the current building makes an impact just from the outside: a neo-Gothic facade, in light tones, that stands out from the surrounding scenery. Inside, the arched staircase is the bookstore's main attraction, but the entire architecture, which includes the busts of Antero de Quental, Eça de Queirós, Camilo Castelo Branco, Teófilo Braga, Tomás Ribeiro and Guerra Junqueiro, is worthy of appreciation.
More recently, Livraria Lello was in the news when writer J. K. Rowling admitted that she was inspired by the building to create the bookstore where Harry Potter met Gilderoy Lockhart, in “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”.

Points of interest in the city:

Avenida dos Aliados
São Bento Station
Porto Cathedral
Luís I Bridge
D. Maria Pia Bridge
Fernandine Walls
Clérigos Towers
Lello Bookstore
Santa Catarina Street
Majestic Café
Bolhão Market
Church of San Francisco
Stock Exchange Palace
Ferreira Borges Market