The origins of the urban centre date back to the Late Bronze Age, 8th century BC approximately.
From an early stage, the proto-historic settlement had important commercial links with the Mediterranean Basin. During the Roman occupation, the city already had impressive buildings and controlled an important road network between Lisbon and Braga. The city was formerly called Cale and later Portucale, from which the name PORTUGAL was derived.
The wall of Porto was built during the Roman era. The original structure was reconstructed in the 12th century, when the borough was donated to Bishop D. Hugo who issued its first charter.
The second layout of the wall dates back to the 14th century; it encloses the hills of Sé and Vitória and descends towards the river where the mooring quay and the Royal Custom-House were located. Between the 13th and 15th-century, the maritime and commercial activities underwent great development, and the links with important European ports were strengthened, such as Barcelona, Valencia, La Rochelle, Rouen, London, Ypres, Antwerp, etc.
During this period, the shipyards of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia were the most important in the country. One of the negotiators of the 1352 treaty between England and Portugal was born in Porto.
His name was Afonso Martins Alho, and his surname has been perpetuated on an idiomatic expression used to refer to someone shrewd: “fino que nem um Alho” (“as cunning as Alho”).
In 1394, the Infante D. Henrique was also born in this city. He was the “navigator” prince, who launched the era of the Portuguese maritime discoveries.
The inhabitants of Porto are known as tripeiros (literally, “tripe eaters”), due to the sacrifice they made in order to help the army that conquered Ceuta in 1415. It is said that they offered all the good meat to the expeditionary forces keeping only the tripe for themselves.
For this reason, one of the city’s most traditional dishes is “tripas à moda do Porto”. The author of the renowned Carta da Descoberta do Brasil (1500) was the Porto-born Pero Vaz de Caminha, former official of the Mint, who was ordered by the King to join the expedition of Pedro Álvares Cabral and write the official report of the journey.
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The Spanish occupation (1580-1640) was a period of great urban and administrative development. Significant artistic changes began in this period and reached their peak in the 18th century. Worthy of mention is the Baroque style, best represented by the works of the Italian architect Nicolau Nassoni (1725-1773), as well as by those of several Portuguese masters, such as António Pereira and Miguel Francisco da Silva. Another important change was the urban reform carried out by João de Almada e Melo (1757-1786) and the beautiful Neo-classic buildings influenced by the English community in the city. It was also the golden age of Port wine.
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Porto has always been known as a liberal and progressive city, with a long-standing tradition of defence of civil rights. Its population withstood an extended military siege by the royalist forces between 1832 and 1833. The victory of the liberal cause was partly due to the sacrifice of the people, who fought to support the Constitutional Chart. As a result of this heroic action, King Pedro IV called it the “very noble, unvanquished and always loyal” city of Porto.
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After the establishment of the Republic, the city underwent a new renovation process, during which took place the construction of the Aliados Avenue. The project was begun in 1915 by the English Barry Parker and continued under the influence of the French school, due to architect Marques da Silva, who had studied in Paris. This harmonious and beautiful avenue is the northern limit of the historic centre’s protection area. Porto is also known as the “city of work”, due to the traditional dynamism of the city’s bourgeoisie, as well as to their honesty and straightforwardness. Porto also features a peculiar and intense social and cultural life.
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