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Oporto The second city in Portugal, in the north bank of Douro River, close to its mouth. It doesn't make sense to
speak of the number of inhabitants, which is said to be more than 350.000, because this city links with many of the
surroundings to the North, being almost impossible to establish limits and borders among them.
History Already inhabited by prehistoric people, Oporto city owes its name to the Roman occupation, since the
Romans called it Portus (it means no more than port). Actually, in the south bank of Douro River, opposite to
Porto, there is a city called Gaia that also comes from the Roman name Cale, and these two cities, Portus and Cale,
were the origin of the name of the country, Portugal.
After the Romans came Sueves and Visigoths. In 716 the Muslim (the Arabs) invasion arrived to Oporto. In 750 it
was attacked by the Asturian king, Alphonse, being abandoned afterwards for one century. In the century IX was
colonized by the crusaders, and the county called Portucale was created. This county was donated in 1097 to the
crusader count Henry of Burgundy, the father of the 1st king of Portugal.
In the century XIV, the city was already an important port of the commercial sea routes between the Mediterranean
and North Europe. In 1415, the maritime expedition for the conquest of Ceuta leaves Oporto, giving meat to the
sailors being the inhabitants ate the tripe. That's where the name of the inhabitants comes from: the tripe eaters.
In the XVIII century begins the Port wine export to England in exchange for the import of English textiles. Port
wine fame abroad comes from this event.
After the French invasions, Oporto was a frenzied supporter of the liberalism, which led the Absolutist Monarchy
to the fall, the independence of Brazil, to the fall of the Monarchy as a whole and to the beginning of the Republic.
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Main monuments
Oporto is a city, as many in the North of Portugal, with immense constructions in granite, that in spite of giving the city a dark look, it also gives a certain
charm.
Cathedral
Robust construction of the XII century, with deep modifications of the XVII and XVIII centuries.
Ribeira quay
Close to the river, the most typical district, with narrow streets and multicoloured houses.
Church of San Francisco
Church of the XIV century with a rich interior decoration in gilt woodwork of the XVII and XVIII centuries.
Stock exchange
It's a XIX century Palace. The most interesting room is the Arab room, imitating Alhambra of Granada.
Clérigos church
XVIII century church, with one of the symbols of Oporto: Clérigos tower, 76 meters high, all in granite.
Port wine lodges In the south bank of Douro river.
Braga It was called Bracara Augusta by the romans. In the V century, the Sueves made it their capital. Then came the Visigoths and the Moors (Arabs).
It was after the reconquest, as the capital of an archdiocese, that Braga regained its importance as a religious city. During the Renaissance and Baroque
periods, many beautiful buildings were made. Braga is today a city of strong religious traditions. Anyway, all the north of the country is strongly Catholic
and this is the capital of that religious feeling.
Cathedral
Among other churches, this is one of the symbols of Portuguese Christianity. The Romanesque structure was much altered in the following periods,
namely the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque era.
It's in the King's Chapel that lie the tombs of the 1st king of Portugal parents: count Henry of Burgundy and his wife Teresa.
The shrines
To the North of Braga, in a hilly place, we have at the top of the mounts, Sanctuaries of pilgrimage. The most famous ones are Bom Jesus do Monte and
Monte Sameiro.
Guimarães Minho is a very old province and has been inhabited by different peoples since the Palaeolithic age. In the Iron Age the Celts settled in the
province and during the roman occupation many of the castros (pre-historic town) were still inhabited.
In the 5th century all Minho was occupied by the Barbarians. In the 6th century the Suevian king was converted to Christianity by St Martin of Dume.
Later came the Visigoths, which were also converted. The Arab influence was not very relevant here.
It was countess Mumadona, in the 10th century, who laid the foundations of Guimarães. She founded a Benedictine monastery (which later became the
"Colegiada", a famous pilgrimage centre until the 14th century) and built a castle which was called Vimaranis (probably a Visigoth name from the
legendary warrior of the 9th century, Vimara Peres, who is said to have disembarked at Oporto to occupy the ruins of Portus-cale. He has a statue in
Oporto, near the cathedral).
In the 11th century Minho belonged to the so-called Portucalense County. These lands were offered to count Henry of Burgundy as a reward for fighting
against the Moors.
In the 12th century A. Henry was born in Guimarães. He made later on Guimarães the first capital of Portugal. That's why it is said that Guimarães is the
cradle of Portugal.
Guimarães was prosperous in the 17th and 18th centuries and that's why we see lots of baroque-fronted houses.
Industries: cutlery, machine tools, textiles, flax spinneries, cotton manufactures and shoes. It has some Universities. It's 243 m high on the foot of Saint
Catherine Mountain.
Castle
Founded in the second half of the 10th century. Later became the residence of Count Henry of Burgundy. His son, A. Henry, was born here in 1109.
Rebuilt in 1940. Near we can see the statue of Alphonse Henry. Between the castle and the palace of the dukes of Braganza is the small chapel of St
Michael where A. Henry was baptized. Curious to mention that this chapel is under the Vatican and not under the local parish.
Martins Sarmento Museum
Countless objects found in the citanias of the north of Portugal.
Alberto Sampaio Regional Museum (near the Basilica of Nossa Senhora de Oliveira or Colegiada)
Remarkable collection of regional art and the treasure of the church Colegiada.
Among others:
-12th century Romanesque chalice in gilt silver.
-Portable altar (triptych) representing the Nativity with silver bas-reliefs, unique example of the 14th century peninsular silversmith art, dedicated to Our
Lady of Guimarães by John I, who, during Aljubarrota, vowed to present Our Lady of the Olive Tree his weight in precious metal.
Basilica of Nossa Senhora de Oliveira or Colegiada.
Formerly a collegiate church founded in the 10th century by countess Mumadona. Rebuilt by count Henry of Burgundy, Alphonse I and John I (to
commemorate Aljubarrota).
The name of Our Lady of The Olive Tree is connected with the following legend: when Wamba was chosen king of the Goths he said he would accept the
title only when leaves grew on the blade of his sword. He dug it into the ground and on the sword grew olive leaves. Penha
It's a pilgrimage place (like Bom Jesus in Braga) from where there is a nice view.
São Torcato
The nearest pilgrimage place, 4 miles from Guimarães.
Citania de Briteiros
A citania (name given to the city built by pre-historic people) inhabited since the pre-history till the roman period.
Ducal Palace (palace of the dukes of Braganza,16 km away from Guimarães)
The construction of the palace was ordered by Alphonse, the count of Barcelos, son of John I, in the mid-15th century. Alphonse was first married to a
daughter of N. A. Pereira and then to Constança de Noronha. The main architect was probably a Norman.
The palace, which was the property of the House of Braganza, lost some importance when the Braganzas preferred Vila Viçosa. In the 19th century it
was converted into a barracks and was restored in 1940. It's now a museum of furniture, tapestries, paintings, porcelain, etc.
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