Why Porto?
Porto, the Capital of the North
Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centers and its core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, as the "Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar".
The historic area is also a National Monument of Portugal. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back to the 2nd century BC when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its combined Celtic-Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin.
Historic Monuments
What to visit in Porto?
Torres dos Clérigos
The Clérigos Church is a Baroque church in the city of Porto, in Portugal. Its 75-meter-tall bell tower, the Torre dos Clérigos, can be seen from various points of the city and is one of its most characteristic symbols. The church was built for the Brotherhood of the Clergy by Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian architect and painter who left an extensive body of work in the north of Portugal during the 18th century.
Take me there!
Estação São Bento
This building was constructed over a number of years, starting in 1904, based on plans by architect José Marques da Silva. The large panels of around twenty thousand azulejo tiles (551 square meters) were designed and painted by Jorge Colaço. The murals represent moments in the country's history and the multicolored panels depict rural scenes showing the people of various regions.
Take me there!
Mercado do Bolhão
The Bolhão Market is a jewel of Porto: the building, one of the city's most iconic, is municipal heritage and a monument of public interest and preserves the memories and stories of the great fresh produce market, which beats in the heart of the city, of the people of Porto, and of those who visit it. Its character is unique and valuable, and its identity and history have been intertwined for over a hundred years with the identity and history of the city.