Portugal

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 is the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The small bars, that line the eastern side of the Avenida do Brasil in Porto, all offer perfect places, to relax, listen to the Atlantic, have a beer, watch the joggers and wait for the sunset.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 is the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The center of Porto has lots of large, fantastic art-deco buildings. The "Edificio Palladium" is known for the clock and the carillon.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 is the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. According to the tradition a monastery existed here within the 6th century. The church of today was consecrated in 1087, but it is proven that two buildings existed here already before. The inscription carved into the tympanum states, that the church was founded in 559 by King Theodemar and consecrated by the Bishop of Braga Lucrécio, but the inscription was done in 1767. I had learned that inside are two Pre-romanesque capitals, but the church was locked. In the backdrop the bell tower of the cew church São Martinho de Cedofeita.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. According to the tradition a monastery existed here within the 6th century. The church of today was consecrated in 1087, but it is proven that two buildings existed here already before. The inscription carved into the tympanum states, that the church was founded in 559 by King Theodemar and consecrated by the Bishop of Braga Lucrécio, but the inscription was done in 1767. I had learned that inside are two Pre-romanesque capitals, but the church was locked, but I could see the capitals that adorned the three portals of the church like this one: Two lions are attacked by two monsters with very long necks. Maybe they were the grandparents of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. According to the tradition a monastery existed here within the 6th century. The church of today was consecrated in 1087, but it is proven that two buildings existed here already before. The inscription carved into the tympanum states, that the church was founded in 559 by King Theodemar and consecrated by the Bishop of Braga Lucrécio, but the inscription was done in 1767. I had learned that inside are two Pre-romanesque capitals, but the church was locked, but I could see the capitals that adorned the three portals of the church like this one. A satanic beast has grabbed a soul.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. Portugal has a long colonial history and Porto has had an important harbour where ships unloaded the goods from the colonies in South America and Africa. The "Casa Oriental" was founded in 1910 and offered coffe, tea and chocolades in the early year. Meanwhile Portuguese products are offered, sweets, sausages, fruits, vegetables, cheeses, olives and bacalao (stockfish). www.casaoriental.pt/base.asp

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The "Casa Oriental" (prev. upload) neighbours to the "Torre dos Clérigos", the bell tower of the "Igreja dos Clérigos". The baroque church was erected for the "Irmandade dos Clérigos" (Brotherhood of the Clergies) by Italian archtitect Nicolau Nasoni 1732 - 1750. The tower, completed in 1763, is 75.6 metres high. To reach the top, the visitor has to climb up about 240 steps. www.torredosclerigos.pt/en/history-and-architecture/tower...

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The baroque "Igreja dos Clérigos" was erected for the "Irmandade dos Clérigos" (Brotherhood of the Clergies) by Italian archtitect Nicolau Nasoni 1732 - 1750. The "Torre dos Clérigos", completed in 1763, is 75.6 metres high. www.torredosclerigos.pt/en/history-and-architecture/tower...

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. Porto has grown strongly in the 19th and 20th century. So there is an interesting mixture of architectural styles, though many older buildings are bad state and need restoration. The "Garagem Atlantico" is the bus station for long distance buses.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The "Farmácia Moreno" was founded in 1804.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. Late afternoon at the Ponte Dom Luís I, the second oldest bridge in Porto, where many bridges span over the river Douro. The Ponte Maria Pia (a technical cousin of the "Viaduc de Garabit"), located one kilometer west, was constructed by Gustave Eiffel and Théophile Seyrig in 1875/1877. The team split and 1881/1886 Mr. Seyrig built the Ponte Dom Luís I, seen here. With a span of 172m. it was the the longest bridge of this type worldwide. On the lower deck are cars, the upper deck is for pedestrians and the Metro Line D.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. A night stroll through the city. Here is another example of Portugal´s colonial history. The "Pastelaria Tupi", an agreeable bakery and take away, is named after the Tupi people. The Tupi people were indigenous to Brazil, inhabitating almost all of Brazil's coast when the Portuguese first arrived there. The population may have numbered up to one million around 1500, but it argely disappeared because of European diseases or because of slavery.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. A night stroll through the city. A light emitting shop offers light emitting diodes.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. A night stroll through the city. Italian underwear perfectly presented on a well illuminated stage.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. A night stroll through the city. The "Café Majestic" is, following by guide-book, one of the most beautiful café - worldwide. I admired the wonderful marble art-deco facade and decided to return and see the interior during daylight. www.cafemajestic.com/en/Majestic-Cafe/History.aspx

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The construction of the dominating Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) began around 1100 and was completed more than 2 centuries later. Though it underwent different alterations over the centuries (gothic, baroque), the romanesque structure of the once fortified church is still clearly visible.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The construction of the dominating Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) began around 1100 and was completed more than 2 centuries later. Though it underwent different alterations over the centuries (gothic, baroque), the romanesque structure of the once fortified church is still clearly visible.

Porto is with a population of about 250.000 the largest city in Northern Portugal. In "Greater Porto", the metropolitan area, live even more than 1.7 million people. The historical center of Porto was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Port wine is named after Porto, since the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia on the southern banks of the river Douro are the centers for packaging, transport and export of the fortified wine. Some years ago I had been here for a couple of days before I started the "Camino Portugues" here. The construction of the dominating Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) began around 1100 and was completed more than 2 centuries later. Though it underwent different alterations over the centuries (gothic, baroque), the romanesque structure of the once fortified church is still clearly visible. The gothic cloister was added end of the 14th century.