Old World Photography
Rust Colored Wooden Door of Porto.
History of Porto
The history of this now great city had humble beginnings. The Romans gave the place the name of "Portocale” and official records of its existence date from 5th Century. The Moors who later occupied most of the Iberian Peninsular destroyed in the early 8th Century whatever previously had existed in this location. It was later captured in the name of the Christian army in 982 and came under the power of Count Henry de Burgundy who ordered a Cathedral to be built. He also introduced a law that stated no nobleman or powerful person could own property or remain within the walls for more than three days. This law was only repealed in 1505. In 1120 the then Queen, Dona Teresa, donated the place of little more than a collection of houses surrounded by a wall to the Bishop Dom Hugo. It was the efforts of this man that in 1147 convinced the English, Flemish and German crusaders to sail on to Lisbon to assist Dom Afonso Henriques to liberate this town from the Moors. In 1237 the Dominicans established a Monastery for their Order. The place only expanded during the Period of the Discoveries when Portugal became Europe's central point in trade and it needing good home ports for its ships and cargo. In the 15th Century the town was one of the ship building centres in Portugal.
The populace of the town was to many times show their independence to domination and taxation. In 1209 the Bishop upset the people to the extent that he remained besieged in his Palace for five months. The Inquisition enjoyed only limited power here, lasting only four years with only one act of "auto-de-fé". In 1628 the women staged a revolt against a new tax introduced on linen and woollen goods. In 1757 the inhabitants revolted with many casualties against the wine monopoly imposed by Marquês de Pombal. Radicals in favour of placing the autocrat Dom Miguel on the throne caused Porto to be besieged in 1832 for eighteen months before capitulating. There were more uprisings during the later half of the 19th Century and it was here in 1878 the first Republican representative in Portugal was elected.
The official name of this city is Porto. However, in recent times there has been popularity for people from other parts to refer to it as "Oporto". This is due to its close and lengthy association with Port wine and the reference to the actual product, "o porto".
As a trading centre at the mouth of the Rio Douro it is the second largest city after Lisbon with over 320.500 inhabitants. The city has a number of distinctive atmospheres and this is very evident when comparing the various parts of the city. The quarter along the riverside known as the Ribeira is full of narrow twisting streets with houses once painted or tiled in colourful facades, and full of the bustling energy of working people during the day and the liveliness of busy "tascas" and restaurants at night.
The district around the Cathedral is also full of busy streets and monuments to past achievements, and these streets are lined with houses built like layers of a cake then crowded together with a maze of small alleys in-between. The Cordoaria quarter is for the students with steep streets and interesting shops. The civic centre of the city is in the Central e Baixa quarter with broad avenues lined with Banks and outdoor cafés, or in the Baixa where the the two-tiered covered daily market goes about its business. Lastly, the Boavista area is the arterial route in and out of the city past blocks of apartments and hotels.
As would be expected of such an important city it is full of fascinating buildings. The imposing 12th Century Sé (Cathedral) contains within many small-scale treasures from the past. Built in 1842 the inside of the Palácio da Bolsa is almost like being in an Arabian dream. The 14th Century Igreja de São Francisco has an 18th Century interior to amaze the traveller. In this church is the Árvore de Jesse, a carved representation of the genealogy of Christ. Equally as amazing is the Igreja da Santa Clara whose opulent gilded interior has to be seen to be believed. The Feitoria Inglesa built in 1790, is a private club restricted to the traders in Port Wine and it is only open to the public by invitation. Its interior is designed around a typical wealthy English townhouse of that period with an impressive sweeping staircase. Cut-glass chandeliers containing hundreds of candles light the ballroom in which occasional balls are still held. Some other churches of note are Igreja da Misericórdia, Igreja dos Congregados, Igreja dos Clérigos, Igreja do Carmo and the Igreja de São Martinho de Cedofeita. Among the points of interest is the Terreiro da Sé with an original Manueline pillory complete with hooks in the corners. The São Bento Railway Station containing tiled pictures by Jorge Colaço depicting early modes of transport and other interesting scenes.
Porto lies on the north bank of the Rio Douro and is connected to the south bank by several bridges, one of which is the Dona Maria Pia Railway Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. It is recorded that the many pieces left over were used to both span the Rio Arade in the Algarve and to build the lift Elevador da Santa Justa in Lisbon. A sad story from history is that prior to the bridge built in 1877 there was one built from linked barges tied together with steel ropes. In 1809, the Porto inhabitants used this bridge to flee from the invading French army and it collapsed drowning more than 5.000 people.
To many persons the City of Porto is associated with a their dish of "tripe". There exists a legend that when the King was equipping his fleet for the invasion of Ceuta in 1415 he stocked his ships with every available piece of meat and left the citizens to exist on all that remained which was tripe - the inhabitants when forced to continuously eat the offal they invented as many ways as possible to make the dish palatable. It has become the traditional dish associated with Porto.
History of Porto
The history of this now great city had humble beginnings. The Romans gave the place the name of "Portocale” and official records of its existence date from 5th Century. The Moors who later occupied most of the Iberian Peninsular destroyed in the early 8th Century whatever previously had existed in this location. It was later captured in the name of the Christian army in 982 and came under the power of Count Henry de Burgundy who ordered a Cathedral to be built. He also introduced a law that stated no nobleman or powerful person could own property or remain within the walls for more than three days. This law was only repealed in 1505. In 1120 the then Queen, Dona Teresa, donated the place of little more than a collection of houses surrounded by a wall to the Bishop Dom Hugo. It was the efforts of this man that in 1147 convinced the English, Flemish and German crusaders to sail on to Lisbon to assist Dom Afonso Henriques to liberate this town from the Moors. In 1237 the Dominicans established a Monastery for their Order. The place only expanded during the Period of the Discoveries when Portugal became Europe's central point in trade and it needing good home ports for its ships and cargo. In the 15th Century the town was one of the ship building centres in Portugal.
The populace of the town was to many times show their independence to domination and taxation. In 1209 the Bishop upset the people to the extent that he remained besieged in his Palace for five months. The Inquisition enjoyed only limited power here, lasting only four years with only one act of "auto-de-fé". In 1628 the women staged a revolt against a new tax introduced on linen and woollen goods. In 1757 the inhabitants revolted with many casualties against the wine monopoly imposed by Marquês de Pombal. Radicals in favour of placing the autocrat Dom Miguel on the throne caused Porto to be besieged in 1832 for eighteen months before capitulating. There were more uprisings during the later half of the 19th Century and it was here in 1878 the first Republican representative in Portugal was elected.
The official name of this city is Porto. However, in recent times there has been popularity for people from other parts to refer to it as "Oporto". This is due to its close and lengthy association with Port wine and the reference to the actual product, "o porto".
As a trading centre at the mouth of the Rio Douro it is the second largest city after Lisbon with over 320.500 inhabitants. The city has a number of distinctive atmospheres and this is very evident when comparing the various parts of the city. The quarter along the riverside known as the Ribeira is full of narrow twisting streets with houses once painted or tiled in colourful facades, and full of the bustling energy of working people during the day and the liveliness of busy "tascas" and restaurants at night.
The district around the Cathedral is also full of busy streets and monuments to past achievements, and these streets are lined with houses built like layers of a cake then crowded together with a maze of small alleys in-between. The Cordoaria quarter is for the students with steep streets and interesting shops. The civic centre of the city is in the Central e Baixa quarter with broad avenues lined with Banks and outdoor cafés, or in the Baixa where the the two-tiered covered daily market goes about its business. Lastly, the Boavista area is the arterial route in and out of the city past blocks of apartments and hotels.
As would be expected of such an important city it is full of fascinating buildings. The imposing 12th Century Sé (Cathedral) contains within many small-scale treasures from the past. Built in 1842 the inside of the Palácio da Bolsa is almost like being in an Arabian dream. The 14th Century Igreja de São Francisco has an 18th Century interior to amaze the traveller. In this church is the Árvore de Jesse, a carved representation of the genealogy of Christ. Equally as amazing is the Igreja da Santa Clara whose opulent gilded interior has to be seen to be believed. The Feitoria Inglesa built in 1790, is a private club restricted to the traders in Port Wine and it is only open to the public by invitation. Its interior is designed around a typical wealthy English townhouse of that period with an impressive sweeping staircase. Cut-glass chandeliers containing hundreds of candles light the ballroom in which occasional balls are still held. Some other churches of note are Igreja da Misericórdia, Igreja dos Congregados, Igreja dos Clérigos, Igreja do Carmo and the Igreja de São Martinho de Cedofeita. Among the points of interest is the Terreiro da Sé with an original Manueline pillory complete with hooks in the corners. The São Bento Railway Station containing tiled pictures by Jorge Colaço depicting early modes of transport and other interesting scenes.
Porto lies on the north bank of the Rio Douro and is connected to the south bank by several bridges, one of which is the Dona Maria Pia Railway Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. It is recorded that the many pieces left over were used to both span the Rio Arade in the Algarve and to build the lift Elevador da Santa Justa in Lisbon. A sad story from history is that prior to the bridge built in 1877 there was one built from linked barges tied together with steel ropes. In 1809, the Porto inhabitants used this bridge to flee from the invading French army and it collapsed drowning more than 5.000 people.
To many persons the City of Porto is associated with a their dish of "tripe". There exists a legend that when the King was equipping his fleet for the invasion of Ceuta in 1415 he stocked his ships with every available piece of meat and left the citizens to exist on all that remained which was tripe - the inhabitants when forced to continuously eat the offal they invented as many ways as possible to make the dish palatable. It has become the traditional dish associated with Porto.
Rust Colored Wooden Door of Porto.
History of Porto
The history of this now great city had humble beginnings. The Romans gave the place the name of "Portocale” and official records of its existence date from 5th Century. The Moors who later occupied most of the Iberian Peninsular destroyed in the early 8th Century whatever previously had existed in this location. It was later captured in the name of the Christian army in 982 and came under the power of Count Henry de Burgundy who ordered a Cathedral to be built. He also introduced a law that stated no nobleman or powerful person could own property or remain within the walls for more than three days. This law was only repealed in 1505. In 1120 the then Queen, Dona Teresa, donated the place of little more than a collection of houses surrounded by a wall to the Bishop Dom Hugo. It was the efforts of this man that in 1147 convinced the English, Flemish and German crusaders to sail on to Lisbon to assist Dom Afonso Henriques to liberate this town from the Moors. In 1237 the Dominicans established a Monastery for their Order. The place only expanded during the Period of the Discoveries when Portugal became Europe's central point in trade and it needing good home ports for its ships and cargo. In the 15th Century the town was one of the ship building centres in Portugal.
The populace of the town was to many times show their independence to domination and taxation. In 1209 the Bishop upset the people to the extent that he remained besieged in his Palace for five months. The Inquisition enjoyed only limited power here, lasting only four years with only one act of "auto-de-fé". In 1628 the women staged a revolt against a new tax introduced on linen and woollen goods. In 1757 the inhabitants revolted with many casualties against the wine monopoly imposed by Marquês de Pombal. Radicals in favour of placing the autocrat Dom Miguel on the throne caused Porto to be besieged in 1832 for eighteen months before capitulating. There were more uprisings during the later half of the 19th Century and it was here in 1878 the first Republican representative in Portugal was elected.
The official name of this city is Porto. However, in recent times there has been popularity for people from other parts to refer to it as "Oporto". This is due to its close and lengthy association with Port wine and the reference to the actual product, "o porto".
As a trading centre at the mouth of the Rio Douro it is the second largest city after Lisbon with over 320.500 inhabitants. The city has a number of distinctive atmospheres and this is very evident when comparing the various parts of the city. The quarter along the riverside known as the Ribeira is full of narrow twisting streets with houses once painted or tiled in colourful facades, and full of the bustling energy of working people during the day and the liveliness of busy "tascas" and restaurants at night.
The district around the Cathedral is also full of busy streets and monuments to past achievements, and these streets are lined with houses built like layers of a cake then crowded together with a maze of small alleys in-between. The Cordoaria quarter is for the students with steep streets and interesting shops. The civic centre of the city is in the Central e Baixa quarter with broad avenues lined with Banks and outdoor cafés, or in the Baixa where the the two-tiered covered daily market goes about its business. Lastly, the Boavista area is the arterial route in and out of the city past blocks of apartments and hotels.
As would be expected of such an important city it is full of fascinating buildings. The imposing 12th Century Sé (Cathedral) contains within many small-scale treasures from the past. Built in 1842 the inside of the Palácio da Bolsa is almost like being in an Arabian dream. The 14th Century Igreja de São Francisco has an 18th Century interior to amaze the traveller. In this church is the Árvore de Jesse, a carved representation of the genealogy of Christ. Equally as amazing is the Igreja da Santa Clara whose opulent gilded interior has to be seen to be believed. The Feitoria Inglesa built in 1790, is a private club restricted to the traders in Port Wine and it is only open to the public by invitation. Its interior is designed around a typical wealthy English townhouse of that period with an impressive sweeping staircase. Cut-glass chandeliers containing hundreds of candles light the ballroom in which occasional balls are still held. Some other churches of note are Igreja da Misericórdia, Igreja dos Congregados, Igreja dos Clérigos, Igreja do Carmo and the Igreja de São Martinho de Cedofeita. Among the points of interest is the Terreiro da Sé with an original Manueline pillory complete with hooks in the corners. The São Bento Railway Station containing tiled pictures by Jorge Colaço depicting early modes of transport and other interesting scenes.
Porto lies on the north bank of the Rio Douro and is connected to the south bank by several bridges, one of which is the Dona Maria Pia Railway Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. It is recorded that the many pieces left over were used to both span the Rio Arade in the Algarve and to build the lift Elevador da Santa Justa in Lisbon. A sad story from history is that prior to the bridge built in 1877 there was one built from linked barges tied together with steel ropes. In 1809, the Porto inhabitants used this bridge to flee from the invading French army and it collapsed drowning more than 5.000 people.
To many persons the City of Porto is associated with a their dish of "tripe". There exists a legend that when the King was equipping his fleet for the invasion of Ceuta in 1415 he stocked his ships with every available piece of meat and left the citizens to exist on all that remained which was tripe - the inhabitants when forced to continuously eat the offal they invented as many ways as possible to make the dish palatable. It has become the traditional dish associated with Porto.
History of Porto
The history of this now great city had humble beginnings. The Romans gave the place the name of "Portocale” and official records of its existence date from 5th Century. The Moors who later occupied most of the Iberian Peninsular destroyed in the early 8th Century whatever previously had existed in this location. It was later captured in the name of the Christian army in 982 and came under the power of Count Henry de Burgundy who ordered a Cathedral to be built. He also introduced a law that stated no nobleman or powerful person could own property or remain within the walls for more than three days. This law was only repealed in 1505. In 1120 the then Queen, Dona Teresa, donated the place of little more than a collection of houses surrounded by a wall to the Bishop Dom Hugo. It was the efforts of this man that in 1147 convinced the English, Flemish and German crusaders to sail on to Lisbon to assist Dom Afonso Henriques to liberate this town from the Moors. In 1237 the Dominicans established a Monastery for their Order. The place only expanded during the Period of the Discoveries when Portugal became Europe's central point in trade and it needing good home ports for its ships and cargo. In the 15th Century the town was one of the ship building centres in Portugal.
The populace of the town was to many times show their independence to domination and taxation. In 1209 the Bishop upset the people to the extent that he remained besieged in his Palace for five months. The Inquisition enjoyed only limited power here, lasting only four years with only one act of "auto-de-fé". In 1628 the women staged a revolt against a new tax introduced on linen and woollen goods. In 1757 the inhabitants revolted with many casualties against the wine monopoly imposed by Marquês de Pombal. Radicals in favour of placing the autocrat Dom Miguel on the throne caused Porto to be besieged in 1832 for eighteen months before capitulating. There were more uprisings during the later half of the 19th Century and it was here in 1878 the first Republican representative in Portugal was elected.
The official name of this city is Porto. However, in recent times there has been popularity for people from other parts to refer to it as "Oporto". This is due to its close and lengthy association with Port wine and the reference to the actual product, "o porto".
As a trading centre at the mouth of the Rio Douro it is the second largest city after Lisbon with over 320.500 inhabitants. The city has a number of distinctive atmospheres and this is very evident when comparing the various parts of the city. The quarter along the riverside known as the Ribeira is full of narrow twisting streets with houses once painted or tiled in colourful facades, and full of the bustling energy of working people during the day and the liveliness of busy "tascas" and restaurants at night.
The district around the Cathedral is also full of busy streets and monuments to past achievements, and these streets are lined with houses built like layers of a cake then crowded together with a maze of small alleys in-between. The Cordoaria quarter is for the students with steep streets and interesting shops. The civic centre of the city is in the Central e Baixa quarter with broad avenues lined with Banks and outdoor cafés, or in the Baixa where the the two-tiered covered daily market goes about its business. Lastly, the Boavista area is the arterial route in and out of the city past blocks of apartments and hotels.
As would be expected of such an important city it is full of fascinating buildings. The imposing 12th Century Sé (Cathedral) contains within many small-scale treasures from the past. Built in 1842 the inside of the Palácio da Bolsa is almost like being in an Arabian dream. The 14th Century Igreja de São Francisco has an 18th Century interior to amaze the traveller. In this church is the Árvore de Jesse, a carved representation of the genealogy of Christ. Equally as amazing is the Igreja da Santa Clara whose opulent gilded interior has to be seen to be believed. The Feitoria Inglesa built in 1790, is a private club restricted to the traders in Port Wine and it is only open to the public by invitation. Its interior is designed around a typical wealthy English townhouse of that period with an impressive sweeping staircase. Cut-glass chandeliers containing hundreds of candles light the ballroom in which occasional balls are still held. Some other churches of note are Igreja da Misericórdia, Igreja dos Congregados, Igreja dos Clérigos, Igreja do Carmo and the Igreja de São Martinho de Cedofeita. Among the points of interest is the Terreiro da Sé with an original Manueline pillory complete with hooks in the corners. The São Bento Railway Station containing tiled pictures by Jorge Colaço depicting early modes of transport and other interesting scenes.
Porto lies on the north bank of the Rio Douro and is connected to the south bank by several bridges, one of which is the Dona Maria Pia Railway Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. It is recorded that the many pieces left over were used to both span the Rio Arade in the Algarve and to build the lift Elevador da Santa Justa in Lisbon. A sad story from history is that prior to the bridge built in 1877 there was one built from linked barges tied together with steel ropes. In 1809, the Porto inhabitants used this bridge to flee from the invading French army and it collapsed drowning more than 5.000 people.
To many persons the City of Porto is associated with a their dish of "tripe". There exists a legend that when the King was equipping his fleet for the invasion of Ceuta in 1415 he stocked his ships with every available piece of meat and left the citizens to exist on all that remained which was tripe - the inhabitants when forced to continuously eat the offal they invented as many ways as possible to make the dish palatable. It has become the traditional dish associated with Porto.
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