Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The city's name comes from the Romans, who dubbed the port town Portus Cale.
When Porto's Christians conquered the Moors in the southern half of the country, the
city's name became the name of the whole country. The many British people who have
shaped Porto have also dubbed it “Oporto” (“the port”), a corruption of the town's true
name. While various guidebooks and postcards call it this, locals never do.
Porto has a gritty warts-and-all character. The people of Porto claim they're working
too hard to worry about being pretty. As an oft-repeated saying goes, “Coimbra studies,
Braga prays, Lisbon parties...and Porto works.”
Straight-laced, nose-to-the-grindstone Porto has enjoyed something of a cultural
renaissance in the last decade. In 2001, it was designated as a European Capital of Cul-
ture. Two exciting showpieces of contemporary architecture have been built: the Serralves
Museum and the House of Music. European Union money has poured in, funding a re-
vamping of the public transportation system and more. With this ongoing construction,
Porto is ever-changing, often chaotic, and worth a visit now more than ever. As a bonus,
Porto serves as a handy gateway to the stunning Douro Valley.
