Port is the second most important city of the Portugal, located in the north of the country and crossed by the Douro River. This charming Portuguese city is spread over the hills that line the river and is characterized by thousands of narrow and colorful streets that climb through the steep neighborhoods to be discovered.
The most characteristic district of Porto is the Riverside, not surprisingly declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The bank, as well as the streets that lead from the top of the hill towards the river, are paved with pebbles. The facades of the dozens of old houses that, one in a row to the other, overlook the river, are painted in warm colors. Walking along the river you reach the famous Cais de Ribeira (Ribeira Square), where the pastel colored houses all around create a sense of continuity with the captivating charm of the riverside.
In the evening, the neighborhood comes alive thanks to the numerous fish restaurants and clubs where you can enjoy a good glass of port, the typical wine of the city, observing the river in front of you and the thousand lights that illuminate it.
Another element that contributes to making this neighborhood unique is the bridge Don Luis I, which connects the Ribeira to the other bank of the river, where the Vila Nova de Gaia district is located. The iron bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel and is spread over two floors, so as to be able to simultaneously connect the two banks to two different levels of the city.
If the Ribeira is an expression of aunique and particular urban architecture, the neighborhood of Vila Nova de Gaia can be considered the house of wine. On this bank of the river the colored facades give way to the presence of important companies that produce and bottle one of the most renowned wines in the world: Porto. The wineries, as well as wine producers, have become an obligatory stop for the many tourists who visit this city every year. Precisely to encourage tourism, the companies organize tours in which expert guides illustrate the process of producing Port wine.
The manufacturer of the Port Sandeman it is considered one of the most renowned, but if there is too much queue, I recommend trying the Vasconcellos company. The visit inside the cellar is really interesting and at the end you can relax with a tasting of the various types of wine.
Porto is a fascinating city and the neighborhoods that develop around the river undoubtedly have a lot to offer, including culture, architecture and tastings.
