Porto

Porto (in English also Oporto), formerly Portucale, population 263,000 in 15 parishes, with 1,551,950 in the metropolitan area, is Portugal's second city and district seat. It is situated in the north of the country, on the northern bank of the Douro River, just in the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

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The country of Portugal and Port Wine (Portuguese: Vinho do Porto) owe their names to the city of Porto.

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One of Portugal's most internationally appreciated products is Port Wine. Its name comes from the fact that it ages in cellars in Porto's southern sister city Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river Douro. Port Wine gets its distinctive taste from brandy that is added during the fermentation process. This additive causes fermentation to stop, allowing for much of the sweetness of the grape to remain intact. The results of this process were discovered quite by accident by British traders who added the brandy to the wine simply to fortify it for long sea voyages back to England.

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Porto is one of the most industrialised districts in Portugal and the city of Porto in particularly is occasionally called "A capital do norte" (English: "The Capital of the North"), for it serves as the center of a higher industrialised northern region of Portugal, and is well known for its enterprising spirit, characteristic culture, people, and local cuisine.

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Metropolitan area: A metropolitan area is a large population center consisting of a large city and its adjacent zone of influence, or of several neighboring cities or towns and adjoining areas, with one or more large cities serving as its hub or hubs....

Portugal: The Portuguese Republic (Portuguese: Rep?blica Portuguesa) is a democratic republic located on the west and southwest parts of the Iberian Peninsula in southwestern Europe, and is the westernmost country in continental Europe. Portugal is bordered by Spain to the north and east and by the Atlantic O...

Second city: :For the American comedy troupe, see The Second City...

Porto related Images and Photos (experimental)

Porto Fino	Porto Ramos	Porto Pitters	Porto Sandeman
Porto Ramos Pinto	Porto Ramos-Pinto	Porto Ramos Pinto	Porto Mediterranio I
Porto Mediterranio IV	Sandeman Porto and Sherry	Porto and Sherry Sandeman 1931	Porto Praya in the Island of St. Jago Plate 4 from "A Voyage to Cochinchina"