Porto

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 07:57:47 +0000

Porto, also known as Oporto, is one of the biggest cities in Portugal. It has given the name of the most famous wine, produced in the country, the Port wine. The area of the city has been inhabited since the 4^th Century AD. Evidence for the ancient period of Porto is some reminds of Citadels, found here. The centre of Porto is rich of historic highlights and it is put in the list of UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Here can be seen the majestic Oporto Cathedral, known as the oldest building in the city. Very impressive is the Church of Saint Francis, built in Gothic style and the beautiful Romanesque Church of Cedofeita. Porto has excellent examples of the Baroque architecture, like the church of Santa Clara, the church of the Clerics and the church of Mercy and the Palace of the Archbishop. Worth seeing are the beautiful Neoclassic and Romanesque landmarks, including the impressive Stock Exchange Palace, the Crystal Palace, as well as the buildings in the Avenida dos Aliados. Very attractive for the tourists are the Arab Room in Porto and the Palacio da Bolsa. Every year, Porto hosts the International Film Festival, Fantasporto, which is one of the most famous cultural events in Portugal. The night between the 23rd and 24th of June is the day of St. John, a very special event for the people in the city. During the dinner, it is a tradition for the people to eat sardines and boiled potatoes together with red wine. Porto has its own cuisine, including the dish Tripes à la Porto. The city is well developed and has a vast variety of public and private secondary schools.

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Porto