Porto also known as Oporto in English, is the second-largest city in Portugal, after Lisbon, and one of the major urban areas in South western Europe. The urban area of Porto, has a population of 1.4 million (2011 census).
Located along the Douro river estuary in Northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and its centre was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1996. Its settlement dates back to around 300 BC with Celtic people being the first known inhabitants. Later on it became an outpost of the Roman Empire.
Porto is also called "Cidade Invicta" (Unvanquished City) because it is said that the Portuguese flag never stopped flowing in the city even after the French invasion of the Iberian Peninsula and the siege of King Miguel forces.
One of Portugal's internationally famous exports, port wine, is named Porto, since the metropolitan area and the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the production and export of the fortified wine. The nickname given to the people of Porto is tripeiros (tripe people). According to the local folklore during the Discoveries higher-quality cuts of meat were shipped from Porto with the sailors, while off-cuts and by-products, such as tripe, were left behind for the citizens of Porto. Tripe remains a culturally important dish in modern day Porto.
Wine, produced in the Douro valley since the 13th century has been transported to Porto in barcos rebelos (flat sailing vessels). Today they are a touristic attraction with great tours organised up and down the river Douro.
Porto is home to a number of dishes from traditional Portuguese cuisine. Typical dishes from this city are Tripas à Moda do Porto (Tripes Porto style) and Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá (Gomes de Sá codfishdish ) .
Porto is the birth place of Filomena’s father. He left to Angola at very young age to be able to support his family after the death of his father. He use to speak fondly of the times he lived in Porto and with such intensity as if it was only yesterday. He only returned to Portugal and Porto after the April revolution in Portugal and the turmoil in Angola that saw the majority of the European population leaving the country.
We normally visit Porto during our holidays and this time we spent a day sightseeing with our cousin António. The photos in the next page are of this visit.
