Historic Centre of Oporto

The Historic Center of Oporto, also known simply as Porto, is a port city that lies on the Douro river. This city has various attractions and features that make it a treasure in Portugal. In 1996 it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is broken onto two areas – the protected area and the classified area. It is not surprising that it is considered a heritage site since the city holds over 1,000 years of history.

Unique City on the Hill

The Historic Centre of Oporto was built on a steep hill side. It features 3 bridges, stunning cathedrals, religious sites and a palace. All the buildings in the area were built some time from the 13th century to the 19th century. The city was a hodge podge. Unlike other cities, there was no planning when building was done. This leads to the unique look of Porto. All the buildings are done in a different style and everything has an eclectic feel since nothing really goes together, as in modern cities where everything is built to be comprehensive and complimentary.

History

The Historic Centre of Oporto was once held by the Moors. The Moors gave over control in the 11th century. In the 14th and 15th centuries the port was widely used to help develop the Portuguese fleet. It wasn’t until the 17th century that the city really began to develop and take on its own image. At this time it became an important port and center for the manufacturing of port wine for which the country is famous. The city’s location on the river made it an important point for the transporting of wine in and out of the country.

The Bridges

Porto is known as the city of bridges since it features so many stunning bridges. The first bridge built here was the Ponte das Barcas. It was built in 1806, but lasted only 3 years until it was damaged. It was then replaced with the Ponte D Maria II, also known as the Ponte Pensil or suspended bridge, that was built between 1841 and 1843. Today only one of the supports remain on this bridge. It was later replaced by the Ponte Dom Luis I between 1881 and 1886.

There is also a railway bridge, the Ponte D Maria that was built at the same time as the suspension bridge. It was designed by the great Gustave Eiffel and was considered t be revolutionary in its use of wrought iron engineering.

Attractions and Sites

One of the most popular things to do in the Historic Centre of Oporto is taking a cruise on the Douro River. Cruising down the river allows you to get great views of the city and take in many of the natural sites around the city. However, the most popular sites in the city are the architectural spots throughout the city.

An impressive building in the city is the Toore dos Clerigos. This is actually the highest tower in the country, measuring in at 76 meters. It was constructed from 1754 to 1763 and is open for you to brave the 200 steps to the top. Another site is the Oporto Cathedral which is the oldest structure in the city. The cathedral, the Church of Cedofeita, Igreja de Sao Francisco, a few houses and the city walls are all that remain from the earlier period in the city’ history.

For more modern architecture from the 19th and 20th century you can check out the Stock Exchange Palace, the Hospital of Saint Anthony and the buildings around the Liberdade Square. Also be sure to get to the gardens at the Crystal Palace. You can take a guided tour of the magnificent Palacio da Bolsa, too.

The Historic Centre of Oporto is like many other cities in Portugal. It has had a rich history that plays out through the buildings and sites in the city. You can see collapsed structures that are signs of the ancient battles and natural disasters through history. There are many rich pieces of architecture dotting the landscape here, as well as, the fruitful wine industry which lends itself to an interesting tourist stop. Make sure that you don’t miss any of the things to see and do in this city.