Porto, or Oporto, is an industrialized northwestern city in Portugal.  It is the country’s second largest city and sits on the hills on the northern bank of the Douro River.  Its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean gives it a much cooler climate than most Mediterranean cities.  Porto summers are typically sunny, with occasional heat waves, while winters are usually rainy and windy.

Porto has always rivaled Lisbon in importance and economic power.  It is the capital of the northern regions in Portugal, and serves as the administrative and cultural center for the 14 municipalities in the Greater Metropolitan Area of Porto and Grater Porto.  It is also considered as one of Portugal’s chief economic centers, functioning in compliment with the economies industries of the members of the conurbation of Greater Porto.  One of Portugal’s internationally famed products, the Porto wine, got its name from the city because it was originally shipped from its ports.

Its high value as a mercantile city started since the Roman occupation.  During that period, it had established trade routes between Olissipona (Lisbon) and Bracara Augusta (Braga).  In the 14th and 15th centuries, Porto’s shipyards had contributed to the growth of Portuguese fleet, with Henry the Navigator setting off from its ports in conquest of Ceuta in northern Morocco. This expedition led to the exploratory voyages to the coast of Africa.  The city is also known as “The Unvanquished City” (A Cidade Invicta) for having resisted a military invasion of the Imperial Napoleonic Army in the 19th century. 

Perhaps, it is all for these reasons that the citizens of Porto have set themselves culturally apart from the nation.  Its mercantile spirit, work ethic, and unparalleled resistance justify the saying, "o Porto é uma nação" (Porto is a nation).  After all, Portugal was named after this city’s ancient Latin name, Portus Cale (Port of Gaia).

Residential Places in Porto

In spite of Porto being Portugal’s second largest city, it still possesses the charms and quaintness of a traditional small town.  Many small shops are interspersed within its residential blocks, just like in the old.  Here, old men sitting around a table playing cards and laundry lines are usual sights.

Although the city has a host of villas and apartments for rent, most of these establishments usually accommodate tourists for short stays and holidays.  Other residential neighborhoods are located within the outskirts of the city and the adjoining municipalities of the Greater Porto area. It is made up of the municipalities of Vila Nova de Gaia, Gondomar, Matosinhos, Espinho, Valongo, Maia, Póvoa de Varzim, and Vila do Conde.

Hospitals and Universities of Porto

Porto has several public and private institutions for higher education.  The largest and most prestigious of these is the state run University of Porto established in 1911.  It has a current student population of 28,000 enrolled in its 13 faculties, biomedical science institute, and business school.  It offers over 160 master courses, 63 graduate degree courses, and several doctoral degree courses.  The university has also established international relations by taking part in several university networks and cooperation groups, participating in international research and development projects, and by the exchanges of students, lecturers, and researchers wit other international universities.  In 2007, a Taiwanese Higher Education Evaluation & Accreditation Council ranked the University of Porto in the 459th place, where it was the single Portuguese university to rank in the top 500.  Its roster of prestigious alumni includes the award-winning professor and architect Eduardo Souto Moura, Forbes’ 470th world’s richest Belmiro de Azevedo, and Brigadier General Kaúlza de Arriaga.

Also housed in Porto is the country’s largest polytechnic institution, the Porto Polytechnic Institute.  It was established in 1985 as a confederation of polytechnic schools in Porto.  These include the schools of technology and management, engineering, accountancy and administration, allied health sciences, music and performing arts, industry and management, and education.  Also in Porto is the state run nursing school Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto.

Porto’s private tertiary educational institutions include the Porto unit of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa which exists with in concordat with the Portuguese Catholic Church, Universidade Fernando Pessoa named after the famed poet and writer, Universidade Lusíada, Universidade Portucalense, the art school Escola Superior Artística do Porto, and the nursing school Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Santa Maria.

Medical Facilities in Porto 

Porto has several medical centers as well as community health centers that provides adequate emergency and healthcare services.  Some free or subsidized medical procedures and consultations may be availed from these community health centers and public hospitals by anyone contributing to the national healthcare system.  Citizens from EU member countries may also avail of these services by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).  Consultation and services in private healthcare providers may cost more since most possess state-of-the-art medical facilities and better accommodations. 

Porto has two main hospitals, one of which is Hospital de Santo António.  This general care hospital is Porto’s most prestigious and oldest having been established in     the late 18th century.  It also serves as a teaching hospital for the medical courses of the University of Porto.  Although it has existed for over 200 years, the hospital is equipped with most modern facilities and is often used as a reference for the quality of installed healthcare in the country. 

Porto also has Hospital de S. João, the regional branch of the National Institute of Oncology Francisco Gentil, as well as several public community health centers and private clinics.

Commercial Places in Porto

As a traditional mercantile city, Porto is known for its shops that sell just about anything.  The city’s most vital shopping areas are Rua de Santa Catarina, Boavista, and Cedofeita.  Such shops include the shops of the city’s finest jewelers, David Rosas along Avenida de Boavista and Elysée Joias at Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque.  Home furnishings in minimalis Iberian style are sold in Móvel on Rua 1 de Maio.  Fine leather goods are sold at Haity on Rua de Santa Catarina. The much acclaimed pure wool Arraiolos carpets are sold at Casa dos Tapetes de Arraiolos on Rua Santa Catarina.

There are also several shopping centers found in the city.  These include the Centro Comercial Peninsular at Praça do Bom Sucesso and Centro Comercial Via Caterina located on the corner of Rua de Santa Catarina and Rua Fernandes Tomar.  These malls have boutiques that carry designer and top brands from Italy, France, and Spain.   The Centro Comercial de Foz on Rua Eugênio de Castro and Centro Comercial Aviz along Avenida de Boavista also carries shops with upscale international brands intersperse with local brands.  The former is pleasantly located next to the sea, while the latter sits in the middle of the city's largest concentration of automobile dealerships.  Other notable shopping centers are the Centro Comercial Brasilia on Praça Mouzinho de Albuquerque and Centro Comercial Cidade de Porto on Rua do Bom Sucesso.  The latter features shops and cinemas interspersed with cafes and restaurants.

An alternative to the shopping malls are Porto’s open-air markets.  There are several open-air markets in the city. These include Mercado dos Passaros on Rua de Madeira, Mercado das Flores at Praça de Liberdade, and Mercado de Bolhão on Rua Sá da Bandeira.

Delicacies in Porto 

Porto’s cuisine is known for its tripe and salted cod specialties.  In fact, residents of Porto are known as tripeiros or tripe eaters, because higher quality meats were then loaded into ships to feed the sailors in expedition voyages in the 14th and 15th centuries.  Nevertheless, Porto’s cuisine is not limited to tripe and salted cod.  It is typically hearty, filling, and wonderfully varied.  Many restaurants serving Porto’s cuisine are found all over the city and especially at Ribeira, the liveliest dining area in the city.   Some of Porto’s notable restaurants are BULL & Bear of Chef Miguel Castro Silva along Avenida da Boavista, the opulent Café Majestic on Rua Santa Catarina which features poetry recitals and piano concerts, Dom Tonho in Cais da Ribeira whose clientele include Portugal’s prominent political figures and movie stars, Portucale found atop the Albergaria Miradouro Hotel on Rua da Alegria, the beach-side restaurant Praia Da Luz along Avenida do Brasil, and the seafood restaurant Aquario Marisquero on Rua Rodrigues Sampai.

Porto's Night Scenes 

Porto is never lacking of lively nightspots to suit anybody’s taste for entertainment and a good time.  For a night of dancing and drinking, the commercial district, along the streets coming from Rua de Santa Catarina, the industrial suburb of Matosinhos, and the Ribeira district are lined with various bars, pubs, and nightclubs.  Notable dance clubs in the city include Bar Indústria in Centro Comercial de Foz, situated along Avenida Brasil and Disco Swing in Centro Commercial Italia on Rua Julio Dinis.   The establishments Triplex along Avenida de Boavista, O Labirinto on Rua Nossa Senhora de Fátima, 31 (Treintaeum) Bar on Rua do Passeio Alegre in Foz do Douro, and Estado Novo on Rua Sousa Arosa in Matosinhos are popular bars in Porto.  Counterculture bars are also popular in Porto where gays and lesbians, or a mixture of straights and gays, frequent them.  Most popular of these are Moinho de Vento on Rua Sá Noronha, Boys 'R US on Rua Dr. Barbosa de Castro, and Aniki Bobo on Rua de Fonte Taurina. The Casa da Música situated along Avenida da Boavista is the new cultural center of the city.  The expansive structure is just the perfect venue to catch a classical or jazz concerto.

Service Establishments of Porto

Portugal Telecom is the major fixed line service provider in Portugal.  Together with its subsidiaries Netcabo, Sapo, PT Wi-Fi, and TMN, it also provides Internet connection and mobile network services.  Application for a line may be done by visiting their shops.  A passport or an identification card, a proof of address, tax number, and bank account details are necessary to present upon the application.  An alternative to Portugal Telecom is World Telecom.  It is a fine alternative for expatriates as it offers services in English, German, and Portuguese.  It provides line rental, telephony, broadband connection, and mobile services.

There are other ISDN, ADSL, broadband, and wireless Internet service providers in Portugal.  These include Telepac, Claranet, Kanguru, and Novís.  Other mobile service providers in Porto are Optimus Telecom and Vodafone Portugal.

The main electric power company in Portugal is Energias de Portugal (EDP).  The same company also distributes natural gas.  Subscription for services may be done by accessing its website or by visiting their shops.

Security in Porto 

Security services in Porto are provided by several branches of the Portuguese police force.  The Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) is responsible for the security in urban areas, while the Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) mainly acts in less populated and rural areas.  These two agencies work hand-in-hand with the local police or the Polícia Municipal.  The Intelligence Police (PJ) is the agency responsible for crime investigations.  The GNR’s Traffic Brigade, on the other hand, is responsible for the safety of the city’s highways. 

Embassies in Porto

Many of the foreign embassies to Portugal are located in the capital Lisbon.   Porto has however, several consular offices in the city, many of which are from European countries.  These are the consulates of Austria at Edificio Peninsula in Praca do Bom Sucesso, Belgium at Alameda de Basilio, Cyprus on Rua Heróis de Mucaba in Gueifaes Maia, the Czech Republic on Rua Senhora do Porto, Denmark on Rua Eugénio de Castro, Estonia on Rua de Sao Francisco, Finland along Avenida da Boavista, France on Rua Eugénio de Castro, Germany along Avenida de Franca, Greece on Rua Pedro Homem de Melo, Hungary at Edificio Amorim on Rua de Meladas, Iceland at Largo do Terreiro, Italy on Rua de Restauraçao, Latvia on Rue do Calvário in Vila Nova de Gaia, Luxembourg on Rua Garcia de Orta, Malta on R. Marechal Saldanha, the Netherlands on Rua de Reboleira, Romania on Rua do Campo Alegre, San Marino along Avenida Montevideu,  Slovakia in Mozelos VFR, Spain on Rua don João IV, Sweden at Largo do Terreiro, Switzerland on Rua do Carvalho, and the United Kingdom along Avenida da Boavista.

African countries with consulates in Porto are Angola on Rua Alexandre Herculano, Mozambique on Rua dos Santos Pousada, Sao Tome and Principe along Avenida de Boa Vista, Senegal on Rue Professeur Mendes Correa, and South Africa along Avenida da Boavusta.  South American consulates include Chile on Rua Das Condominhas, Ecuador on Rua Goncalo Cristovao, Paraguay on Rua da Palmeira in Vila Nova de Gaia, Peru at Pousada de Saramangos, and Uruguay at Patio Das Japoneiras.  Asian consulates in Porto include India at Senhora da Hora, Nepal at Travanca in Cinfaes, Pakistan at Edificio Via Norte on Rua do Expido, and Sri Lanka along Avenida da Boavista.