PORTUGAL : Porto - History
The origins of the urban centre date back to the Late Bronze Age, 8th
century BC approximately. From the beginning, the pre-historic
settlement had important commercial links with the Mediterranean Basin.
During the Roman occupation, the city was already provided with
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 in the Roman period. The original layout was
reconstructed in the 12th century, when the borough was donated to
Bishop D. Hugo who issued the first charter.
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. In this period, the
shipyards of Oporto and Vila Nova de Gaia were the most important ones
in the country.
This city was the scene for the marriage of João I and Philippa of
Lancaster, symbolising the long-standing military alliance between
Portugal and England. This alliance was at times respected and at other
times not.
The inhabitants of Porto are known as tripeiros (literally, "tripe
eaters"), due to their sacrifice 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 and only kept the tripe for themselves. That
is why one of the city's most traditional dishes is "tripas à moda do
Porto".
Torre dos ClérigosIn 1754, the Italian architect Nasoni designed a tower
that was built in one of the central zones of the city and became its
icon: Torre dos Clérigos.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, the city became an important
industrial centre and saw its size and population increase. A two-level
iron bridge - Luís I - (designed by the Belguian engineer Téophile
Seyrig) and a railway bridge - Maria Pia -, designed by Gustave Eiffel,
in association with Seyrig, were constructed, as well as the central
railway station (São Bento, considered to be one of the most beautiful
in Europe). A university (Aula de Náutica, 1762) and stock exchange
(Bolsa do Porto, 1834) were established in the city.
