Porto

Porto is also called "a mui nobre, sempre leal e invicta cidade do Porto" - the noble, always loyal and unvanquished city of Porto, the city that stood up to the French invasions and supported the liberals in the civil war in the 19^th Century. The Porto people were and still are a little suspicious of the south of the country, especially the power established in Lisbon.

This area is called the green coast and offers views and tranquillity that you will never forget. This entire region is steeped in history - for here, at the beginning of the 12^th Century, Portugal was born.

Porto is Portugal's second largest city. It is located on the river Douro, which provides a beautiful, view as you approach the city. There are few bridges over the river that provides various entrances to the city. Years ago wine barges brought the grapes down this river from the upper Douro Valley. The wine was produced in the lodges in Vila Nova and Portugal became famous throughout the world for its fine wines.
The Dom Luís I bridge, or as the people in Porto call it - Ponte Luis I, is the most notable one and the one that leads into the business district and the center of town.

Porto is vast and monumental. It extends roughly from the Câmara Municipal (Town Hall) at the northern end of the wide Avenida dos Aliados to the riverfront Praça da Riberira - but it is fairly concentrated and can be explored on foot.

You can Visite the old city located on the banks of the Douro River. This area is very colorful. You can look across the river and see the wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia and the two decks of the colorful old Dom Luís Bridge. You can spend considerable time shopping in the markets and enjoying eating in the many colorful restaurants in the area.

Driving in the lower level of the bridge to the Wine Lodges in Vila Nova is amazing. You can drive for miles down the river's edge. You past the entire most notable wine lodges in Portugal and the world. Many of the lodges also permit visitors and have showrooms to accommodate you and provide free tasting of Portugal's famous wine. You will also see some of the old wine barges that brought the wine down from the mountains' years ago.

There are many other places in Porto to explore from the Town Hall down through the business district to the Cathedral.

The Minho Douro is famous for its Port Wines. You should visit some of the famous Port houses in Villa Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto. Another pleasant past time would be to visit some of the Quintas where the wine is produced. One of these is the Quinta da Aveleda a very successful business in the heart of the Vinho Verde. It is located about 30 km east of Porto and visitors are welcome for a tour on weekdays.

The Quinta da Aveleda is considered to be a model property due to a perfect combination achieved between the exigencies of a modern, complex company and the simplicity and serenity inherent to nature. This devoted way of taking care and preserving nature is evident in the wine growing activities of the company as it is in the luxuriant beauty of its gardens.
Visit Porto

Hotel Information:
Porto