Porto is where the Douro River carves its way into the Atlantic. It is a district of granite, gold and fog. For a road trip it provides a transition from the narrow medieval alleys of the city to the steep terraced vineyards. The roads follow the river as it cuts through deep canyons and rising hills. Cross the **Dom Luís I Bridge** on the upper deck for a panoramic view of the orange rooftops of Porto city. Drive down to the **Ribeira** riverfront where rabelo boats bob on the water. Visit the **São Bento Station** to see walls covered in twenty thousand blue tiles. Wander the **Clérigos Tower** for a sightline that reaches the ocean. Then head to Vila Nova de Gaia to walk among the massive wine cellars that have aged port for centuries. Head east on the **N222** which is one of the most beautiful driving roads in the world. This route hugs the river and snakes through the heart of the **Douro Valley**. Stop at the **São Leonardo de Galafura** viewpoint to see the river bend below you. The landscape is a geometric wonder of vine covered terraces built by hand over generations. Visit an ancient **Quinta** to taste wine directly from the source. Follow the coastline north to the **fishing port of Matosinhos**. This is the place for the best grilled fish in the country. Watch the sunset at **Foz do Douro** where the river finally meets the sea. Navigate the coastal road to see the lighthouse at Felgueiras stand against the crashing Atlantic waves. Porto is a district of work and wine.

Porto (district) highlights

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The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

The local Four

Porto

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History of Porto (district)

Porto is a district forged in granite and tempered by the tide. Its history is the reason the nation carries the name Portugal. It began as a small Roman settlement called **Portus Cale** on the steep banks of the Douro. For centuries this port served as the vital link between the fertile interior and the global sea. The district earned the title "The Unvanquished City" because it survived countless sieges and never surrendered its spirit to invaders. The true fortune of the district flowed down the river from the **Douro Valley**. In the 17th century British merchants arrived to trade textiles for the deep red wines of the region. This partnership birthed the Port wine industry and built the grand neoclassical palaces of the city center. To protect this liquid gold the locals built the massive **Dom Luís I Bridge**. This iron giant became a symbol of the industrial revolution and the engineering power of the north. A road trip through Porto is a trip through local history which you can see in the medieval **walls of Ribeira** and the gilded wood carvings of the **Church of São Francisco**. The district has always been a place of merchants and sailors rather than kings. This independent streak is why Porto remains a city of stone and commerce. It is a place where history is not just in a museum but lived on every street corner and in every aging wine cellar.

Porto (district)

Porto (district) highlights

Part of these road trips

The local Four

History of Porto (district)

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