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Porto or Oporto is located near the mouth of the River Douro in the north of Portugal. It is the country's second largest city and a major port.

It gives its name to both the country and to Port wine and is famous for its tripe dishes. Inland from the city is the beautiful Douro valley and a wild and rugged hinterland.

The Romans named the city Portocale and it was later inherited by British-born Henri of Burgundy in 1095, eventually winning Portugal its status as an independent kingdom.

As Portuguese explorers spread the country's influence across the world, Porto expanded dramatically in the 15th century.

After developing the major world sea routes, Portugal became Europe's central trade centre. In the 18th and 19th centuries Porto grew as an industrial centre with an appetite for radical politics.

Riverside attractions

In modern times its city hillsides have been granted Unesco World Heritage Site status and its soccer team is renowned. It has world class concert halls, a metro system and some of the finest art galleries in Portugal.

Key attractions are the riverside quarter known as the Ribeira which is full of narrow twisting streets with houses painted or tiled in colourful facades and full of busy "tascas" and restaurants at night.

The civic centre in the Central e Baixa quarter has broad avenues lined with outdoor cafés and the imposing 12th century Sé Cathedral, built inside the Palácio da Bolsa, has displays of fine treasures.

Other notable churches include the 14th century Igreja de São Francisco and the Igreja da Santa Clara with its opulent gilded interior.

Wine warehouses

Opposite Porto's riverside is Vila Nova de Gaia, a steep stone waterfront packed with more than 60 terracotta roofed wine warehouses, many open to the public for tastings and tours. On the coast to the north are the popular holiday resorts of Vila do Conde and Póvoa de Varzim.

Getting around is relatively easy thanks to a modern metro system. Integrated tickets allow passengers to switch between tram, metro, funicular and some bus lines. Porto's extensive bus system has central hubs at Praça da Liberdade, Praça Almeida Garrett and Cordoaria. The tram system has been wound down with the building of a metro but there are funicular services up the steepest hills.

Porto is the principal rail hub for northern Portugal. Long-distance services start at Campanhã station, 2km east of the centre. Most suburban and regional trains start from São Bento station.

Porto airport is 11km south of the city. Road access is from the A1 to Lisbon; IP4 motorway linking Vila Real and Bragança: the A3 linking Porto and Braga as well as the IC 1 and IC 24.

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