City Of Bridges – Porto In Northern Portugal

Home > Portugal > City Of Bridges – Porto In Northern Portugal

Porto is the second largest city in the country, situated alongside the Duoro river estuary in north Portugal. One of the oldest centers in Europe with a historic city center that is a UNESCO declared World Heritage Site in 1996, Porto has a rich history that dates back to the 4th century to the time of the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula. It established as an important commercial port during the Roman rule, following which Porto exchanged several hands.

The nickname ‘City of Bridges’ is quite befitting for Porto because of the number of bridges that you can see in the city, with its first bridge Pontes das Barcas, which was a pontoon bridge having been built in 1806. However the bridge collapsed under the weight of fleeing inhabitants when Napoleon’s troops marched into the city. Another bridge, the Ponte D. Maria II was built in its place between 1841–1843. What remains of this bridge today, is its supporting pylons.

Architectural attractions from the past include the Oporto Cathedral, the Romanesque Church of Cedofeita, the Gothic Church of Francis with its fabulous gilt work interiors, some 15th century houses and the remains of the city walls. The neoclassic form of architecture of the 19th and 20th centuries also offered remarkable additions to the city such as the Stock Exchange Palace, Liberdade Square, Municipality, Hospital of Saint Anthony, the Crystal Palace gardens and the Sao Bento Train Station.

The Palacio da Bolsa, is a chief attraction with its Arab Room, which is worth seeing. Porto is also famous for its renowned fortified wine, a port wine named Porto that is exported from here. You can visit the port wine cellars at Vila Nova de Gaia, which lies on the opposite side of Ribeira de Gaia across the river. Ribeira is also a good place to start your sightseeing of the old city comprising of the World Heritage Sites. You could also take a cruise up the river to get some stunning views of the surrounding landscape.

Francisco de Sa Carneiro Airport located 15 km northwest of the city center serves Porto while several train lines connect the city to various parts of the country. For transport within the city, you will find a huge network of buses, the Porto Metro and a tram network of which only 4 operate today. A huge network of motorways and highways also connect Porto to various regions in the country.