Page 357 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

POR TUGAL  355

The Douro River and old city of Oporto, with the Ponte de Dom Luís I and modern metro line in the foreground
8 Oporto in 1842. Its highlight is the The oldest of the five bridges
Arabian Room decorated in spanning the Douro are the
* 245,000. k 10 km (6 miles) N.
£ @ n Rua Clube dos Fenianos 25 the style of the Alhambra. Dona Maria Pia railroad bridge
(223-393 472); Terreiro de Sé (223-325 Close by is the 14th-century (1877), designed by Gustave
174). _ São João do Porto (Jun São Francisco church. Its Eiffel, and the two-tiered Ponte
23–24). ∑ portoturismo.pt interior is richly covered in de Dom Luís I (1886), by one
carved and gilded wood. of Eiffel’s assistants.
Ever since the Romans built a fort In the Cordoaria district, west Across the river is the town
here, at the mouth of the Douro, of the Sé, stands the 18th- of Vila Nova de Gaia, the
Oporto (Porto in Portuguese) century Igreja dos Clérigos. center of port production,
has prospered from commerce. The church tower, at 75 m housing the lodges (armazéns)
Today it is Portugal’s second city (246 ft), offers superb views. of over 50 companies. Many
and a thriving industrial center. Situated in the lovely offer guided tours.
The commercial center of Serralves park, the Fundação
the city and the Baixa (“lower”) de Serralves is dedicated to E Fundação de Serralves
district attract fashionable contemporary art. It presents Rua Dom João de Castro 210. Tel 226-
shoppers. Also in the Baixa is temporary exhibitions in the 156 500. Open 10am–6pm Tue–Fri (to
the colorful Bolhão market. Art Deco Casa de Serralves, and 7pm in summer), 10am–7pm Sat, Sun,
Most of the tourist sights, its art collection, from the 1960s & public hols (to 8pm in summer).
however, are to be found in to the present, in the Modernist Closed Jan 1, Dec 25. & (free 10am–
the older riverside quarters. Museu de Arte Contemporânea, 1pm Sun). 7 - = ∑ serralves.pt
High above the river, on designed by Alvaro Siza Vieira.
Penaventosa Hill, stands
Oporto’s cathedral, or Sé,
originally a fortress church. The Story of Port
A noteworthy 13th-century
feature is the rose window, Port comes only from a demarcated
while the upper level of the region of the upper Douro valley. Its
“discovery” dates from the 17th century,
beautiful 14th-century cloister when British merchants added brandy
affords splendid views. to Douro wine to stop it turning sour
Nearby are the Renaissance in transit. Over the years, methods of
church of Santa Clara, and São maturing and blending were refined
Bento Station, completed in and continue today in the port lodges
1916, decorated with of Vila Nova de Gaia. Much of the trade
spectacular azulejo panels. is still in British control.
Below the Sé is the hillside A classic after-dinner drink, port
Barredo quarter, seemingly is rich and usually full-bodied. The
unchanged since medieval tawnies are lighter in color than ruby
days. This leads down to the or vintage, but can be more complex.
riverside quarter, the Ribeira, All ports are blended from several
its houses decorated with tiled wines, selected from scores of samples. Tiled panel of a barco rabelo on
or pastel-painted facades. White port, unlike the other styles, is the Douro
The district has been restored drunk chilled as an aperitif.
and is now a thriving tourist Traditionally, the wine was shipped
down the Douro from the wine-growing estates (quintas) to the port
center with restaurants and clubs. lodges on narrow sailing barges called barcos rabelos. Some of these
Sights close to the river can still be seen moored along the quay at Vila Nova de Gaia.
include the Palácio da Bolsa,
the city’s stock exchange, built

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