Porto (often referred to as Oporto) is Portugal's second largest city with a population in excess of a million including its many surburbs.
The old town nestles spectacularly on the banks of the Douro River and is dominated by a series of famous bridges, including the Ponto Ferrovaria Maria, designed by famous French engineer Eiffel, the same man who built Paris' celebrated landmark.
Despite the size of the city, the centre down to the river is full of winding streets with easy access on foot.
The city is famous throughout the world for its port, a fortified wine made for more than 300 years and the warehouses belonging to the industry's famous brand names gather on the opposite bank of the river to the old town.
ACCOMODATION:
Due to the size of the city, it boasts a huge range of hotels from the some of the world's famous chains to inexpensive family-owned guest-houses.
Prices for accommodation in the historic parts near the river are at a premium while the major international brands boast huge hotels near the ring road.
PLACES OF INTEREST:
Port Lodges: All the major brands have wine caves you can visit and, for a small fee, you can get a conducted tour with a history of wine-making and a chance to buy a bottle or two at a discount price.
Ponte Rodovaria Dom Luis I: Spectacular iron bridge reminiscent of Newastle's famous Tyne bridge. The road bridge can be crossed on foot on either the lower or upper level and from the far bank, gives a superb view of Porto old town.
Igreja de Sao Francisco: Amazing gold-laden gothic church near the river facing the wine caves. Hardly used for religious purposes these days but still full of baroque decoration.
LOCAL DELICACIES:
As in much of Portugal, fish is a staple diet with cod (bacalhau) a local favourite when grilled as well as all types of seafood. Other prevalent dishes include all types of soup, roast kid goat and, especially, tripe which led to the city's inhabitants getting the nickname of 'tripe-eaters' more than five centuries ago.
TO THE STADIUM:
Porto will boast two stadia for Euro 2004, which will be part of a 'Sport City' in the northern area of the city.
The Dragao Stadium seats 52,000 in an area between the Av. Fernão de Magalhães, the VCI and São Roque da Lameira and will be home to FC Porto. The Bessa Stadium is the home of Oporto's other major team Boavista and has had its four stands revamped for the tournament, raising the capacity to 30,000. It can be found halfway along the focal Avenida da Boavista, which runs from the Castelo do Queijo on the coast, to Rotunda da Boavista near to the city centre.
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