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14 | Portugal River Voyage Guide Set against a backdrop of the winding Douro River and exuding charm from every brick, Porto is rich in culture, architecture and, of course, port. With a history dating back to the Roman Empire, its Celtic-Latin name, Portus Cale, is believed to be the origin of the name Portugal. The city was given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1996 and it is home to some of the most important works of architecture in the country, from the Modernist buildings of the early 20th century to the spellbinding Romanesque cathedral and the huge synagogue, which shows the city's diverse and lengthy cultural history. Wander down the pedestrian street Rua de Santa Catarina, and visit the Church of Saint Ildefonso, decorated in the blue azulejo tiles that are typical of the region. Then onto São Bento railway station where some of the city's key historical moments are depicted in over 20,000 tiles. DON'T MISS • Porto is home to concert halls, theatres, galleries and museums. One notable example is the Soares dos Reis National Museum, which displays Portuguese art across the past five centuries. The Serralves Foundation curates the Museum of Contemporary Art, with some great exhibitions from all around the world. Buildings such as the Coliseu do Porto theatre and the Cinema Batalha are some examples of the Streamline Moderne and Art Deco to look out for. • Portugal is now the fifth largest exporter of wine in Europe. Expect to find the usual sweet variants as well as the rarer dry and semi- dry. A trip to a port wine-making facility is a definite highlight of any visit to this fascinating city. • Take an excursion to Guimarães, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is a 45-minute drive from Porto. Its medieval quarter palaces and monasteries date back to the 10th century, and in the 12th century it became Portugal's first capital city. • The flagship store of the country's beauty and fragrance brand Claus Porto is worth a visit on Rua das Flores, home to many charming stores, and spend time in Livraria Chaminé da Mota, a wonderful and atmospheric family-owned book emporium also housing a collection of music boxes and gramophones. Souvenir shops are prevalent along with hand- made crafts, and you can buy all sorts of local art for reasonable prices. SA R DINES ON TOA ST With graceful bridges, baroque cathedrals and cobbled streets, the second largest city in Portugal offers a feast for the soul and senses Porto CITY GUIDE