25 Interesting Facts About Porto, Portugal
Previously overshadowed by Lisbon, Porto is attracting an increasing number of visitors every year. And for good reason! Located in the north of Portugal on the banks of the Douro River, Porto is a city with a strong identity that stands out with its colorful buildings and its azulejos, these beautiful ceramic walls.
But did you know that Porto houses one of the most beautiful train stations in the world? Or that it’s a heaven for veggies?
Discover more thanks to these 25 interesting facts about Porto, Portugal!
Facts on Porto to Learn All About It
Ready to learn all about Porto?
Facts are one of the best ways to learn more about something, and I personally love to read them! I’ve put together for you quite a bit of facts on Porto; I’ve split these Porto interesting facts in 3 categories:
- The best Porto facts
- Porto fun facts
- General facts of Porto
Let’s dive in straight away with our first category!
The Best Porto Facts
Porto is one of the biggest cities in Portugal. It is full of culture with a ton of history. Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal, after the capital city of Lisbon. So if you are interested in knowing more about this city, read it!
1. The name of the city Porto comes from a term “Portus Cale”
Porto was originally named Cale in the Celtic empire. The port city of Cale or Portus Cale was later renamed as just Porto. In fact, Portus Cale later turned into Portucale, from which the current name of Portugal was developed.
This has been the extent of influence Porto has had on Portugal.
2. Porto is fondly called as “Invicta” and the locals are called “Tripeiros”
The people of Porto are called Tripeiros for they are known to make a dish known as “Tripas à Moda do Porto ”. Thus the name Tripeiros came into being. The city is called Invicta as a sign of respect as the city withstood a siege of over a year during the 19th century Portuguese civil war and Invicta means unconquered. This is how the city got its glorious nickname.
3. Porto is believed to have been inhabited since the 8th century BCE.
The earliest evidence of settlers in Porto dates back to the end of Bronze age near the 8th century BCE, near the present day Morro da Sé. The ancient village of Cividade was known to be the place where the settlers had first settled. The site was demolished in 1940. This makes Porto one of the oldest cities in all of Europe.
4. Porto first developed as a city in the 4th century ACE.
References found for the city of Porto show that the city was under the Romans in the fourth century. However, Celtic citadels found in Porto show that the city predates the Roman era. But, it is believed the city of Porto truly developed in the Roman times.
5. Porto has an Eiffel connection.
No, Porto does not have its own Eiffel Tower. What it has are a few gorgeous bridges. The Dom Luis I bridge on the Douro River. The bridge was built between 1881 and 1885 by a student of Gustave Eiffel, the designer of The Eiffel Tower. However, the stronger connection is with the Maria Pia Bridge, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel himself. It was built between 1876 and 1877.
Dom Luis I bridge
6. Porto has been voted as the best destination in Europe.
Porto has been voted as the best destination in Europe thrice in the last decade – 2012, 2014 and 2017. This list is released every year by the Best European Destinations Agency. This prestigious position shows that Porto is one of the most popular cities in Europe for tourism, but also one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads. And considering the natural and architectural beauty of the city, it’s pretty easy to understand why.
7. Porto’s population has doubled over the last 70 years.
The population of the Porto metropolitan area has more than doubled since 1950. From 730,000 to 1.73 million people today, Porto is one of the most prosperous regions in the country. The city of Porto only has about 210,000 people out of the 1.73 million.
8. Porto’s center is a World Heritage site.
The “Historic Center of Porto” along with Luiz l bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar have been deemed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1996. The historic center holds several of the most important monuments of Porto. The area is rich in Portuguese architecture and is a joy to behold. You must visit this area the next time you are in Porto.
9. The head office of the Commercial Association in Porto is a 19th century building.
The Palácio da Bolsa, or the Stock Exchange Palace is a 19th century palace in Porto that was built by the Commercial Association. Even though the building is now a National Monument, the head office of the Commercial Association still resides in the palace.
10. Porto is known as the city of bridges.
Porto is the only European city with 6 bridges, and all six of them run over the Douro river. They all look gorgeous and show off the excellent architectural prowess of the Portuguese. They connect the city of Porto with the city of Vila Nova de Gaia. These six bridges are – Maria Pia, Dom Luis I, Arrabida, Infante D. Herique, Sao Joao, and Freixo Bridge. These bridges help in the Port wine trade a lot.
11. Porto is very budget friendly for travelers.
Most of the cities in Europe are considered to be expensive holiday destinations. But Porto on the other hand is very easy on the pocket and you can get a meal for 5 euros and a hotel for about 20 euros. So if you are visiting Porto, you can enjoy the culture and the scenic beauty without burning a hole in your pocket.
12. Porto is well known for its gorgeous cathedrals and churches.
While Porto has had the influence of several cultures, its catholic and gothic roots run the deepest. Some of the most popular cathedrals in Porto are the Porto Cathedral, the Church of Saint Francis, and the Clerigos Church. While the church of Saint Francis is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, The Clerigos Church has a 75m tall bell tower.
13. Cafe Majestic is one of the most iconic places in the city.
Opened in the early 1920s, Cafe Majestic on Santa Catarina Street is a historical cafe in Porto. The distinctive Art Nouveau Facade and the curved stonework makes this place a must visit. This vintage coffee house has been renovated and revived, but it still holds its bohemian touch. Even today, flocks of tourists can be seen visiting the cafe.
14. The Sao Bento train station in Porto is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
This 20th century railway station in the Center of Porto is an architectural marvel. Sao Bento translates to Saint Benedict in English. The three storey building has a U shape and is built in geometric rigor, in the Beaux-Arts style. It is built primarily of ceramic.
15. Port wine comes from this region.
This fortified, sweet wine is well known all over the world. It is enjoyed mostly during or after dessert because of its sweet taste. But don’t let the taste fool you, it can have alcohol content as high as 22%. It is made along the Douro river and is one of the chief exports of the region. Porto and port wine are almost synonymous with each other.
16. September is the grape harvest season in Porto.
The Douro Valley is the most demarcated wine region in the world and it is well known for its wineries and scenic beauty. September is the best time of the year to visit these wineries and get a closer look at the process. So the wine enthusiasts would know where and when to go.
17. The most iconic symbol for the city of Port is the baroque tower Torre dos Clerigos.
As mentioned before, this bell tower, located in the Clegios Church, is an incredible baroque tower that can be seen from many points in the city. While originally 2 such towers were planned to be built, only 1 was made in the late 1700s.The tower also serves as a lighthouse for the port since the 1910s.
18. If you are a vegetarian, you will find plenty of food options.
In fact, there are plenty of options even for vegans. The food scene of the city in general is very vibrant and you can find some real delicacies. Caldo Verde soup, several traditional bread items, baked Castanhas (Chestnuts), Portuguese Pastries, Bolo rice (King Cake), Arroz Doce (Sweet Rice), Veg Salad and Vegan chocolate cakes can all be found in the city.
19. The first permanent bridge built in Porto collapsed.
No, it was not due to poor architecture or material. The story is pretty gory. When Napoleon tried to invade the city with his forces, the people decided to flee and cross the Ponte das Barcas bridge. However, under the weight of thousands of Porto residents, the bridge collapsed, plunging hundreds to their death.
So these were the best facts about Porto that you probably didn’t know about. But if you think we are done here, you are sorely mistaken.
Porto Fun Facts
A city with a history as rich as Porto is bound to have some really fun and funny facts related to it. So why don’t we take a look at some of these fun facts about Porto?
20. The largest street festival in the world takes place in Porto.
In the month of June, the people of Porto celebrate the patron saint of the city – Saint John. The festival known as Festas de São João takes place on the night of 23 – 24 June. As the season is perfect for it, people often keep a vase of bush basil, decorated with a poem. For dinner, people famously eat sardines and boiled potatoes with red wine.
21. Porto has its own version of the Croque Monsieur.
The Francesinha is a five layered sandwich which is the Portuguese adaptation of the Croque Monsieur. The sandwich is made with bread and can have layers of wet-cured ham, steak or roast meat, linguica and a chipolata-like sausage. The sandwich is covered with melted cheese and a hot and thick spiced tomato and beer sauce. It is often served with beer and french fries.
22. One of the most important marriages in Europe was held in Porto.
In 1387, João I and Philippa of Lancaster were married in Porto. Now, you may wonder, what is special about them? Their marriage symbolized the military alliance between the British and Portuguese. Even today, this alliance is recognized by NATO and is one of the oldest surviving military alliances.
23. FC Porto has a strong link with the wine trade.
FC Porto is one of the biggest and most well known clubs in Portugal and all of Europe. The club that was formed in 1893 was actually founded by a wine salesman by the name António Nicolau de Almeida. This solidifies the connection between two of the most loved things in Portugal – wine and football.
24. Portuguese people still follow some of their oldest traditions.
As mentioned before, the people of Porto keep vases of Basil in their homes during the festival of Saint John. This is done as it is believed that basil symbolizes fertility and good health. During the festival people also hit each other on the head with inflatable hammers and wave garlic in each other’s faces. This does sound like a lot of fun, doesn’t it?
25. People in Porto put their courage on the fire test.
During the festival of Saint John, it is tradition to light bonfires everywhere. It is also a custom to challenge your friends to jump over these bonfires. People believe this tests one’s courage and brings them good health and a good marriage.
So that was fun. I hope you now know more about Porto than before reading these Porto Portugal facts. But if you want to know more, keep reading, I have more information to give to you.
General Facts of Porto
You’ll find below a few general facts of Porto, to learn more about this Portuguese city:
- Name: Porto
- Province: Porto
- Region: Norte
- Land area:41.42 km2 /15.99 sq mi
- Population: 1,725,300
- Name of inhabitants: Portuense, Tripeiro
- Website: Porto
Porto Flag
More Facts!
Do you want even more facts about Portugal?
Here is the main guide of the best Portugal facts 👉 60 Best Facts about Portugal
And here are other Portugal facts posts that might interest you:
Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.
The Full List of 25 Porto Facts
- The name of the city Porto comes from a term “Portus Cale”
- Porto is fondly called as “Invicta” and the locals are called “Tripeiros”
- Porto is believed to have been inhabited since the 8th century BCE.
- Porto first developed as a city in the 4th century ACE.
- Porto has an Eiffel connection.
- Porto has been voted as the best destination in Europe.
- Porto’s population has doubled over the last 70 years.
- Porto’s center is a World Heritage site.
- The head office of the Commercial Association in Porto is a 19th century building.
- Porto is known as the city of bridges.
- Porto is very budget friendly for travelers.
- Porto is well known for its gorgeous cathedrals and churches.
- Cafe Majestic is one of the most iconic places in the city.
- The Sao Bento train station in Porto is one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.
- Port wine originated in this region.
- September is the grape harvest season in Porto.
- The most iconic symbol for the city of Port is the baroque tower Torre dos Clerigos.
- If you are a vegetarian, you will find plenty of food options.
- The first permanent bridge built in Porto collapsed.
- The largest street festival in the world takes place in Porto.
- Porto has its own version of the Croque Monsieur.
- One of the most important marriages in Europe was held in Porto.
- FC Porto has a strong link with the wine trade.
- Portuguese people still follow some of their oldest traditions.
- People in Porto put their courage on the fire test.
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