Porto

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Industrial city, important port, and capital of Porto district, northwest Portugal, 280 km/174 mi north of Lisbon, on the River Douro, 5 km/3 mi from its mouth on the Atlantic coast; population (2003 est) 264,200, urban agglomeration 1,213,400. Port wine (to which the city gives its name), cork, fruits, olive oil, and building materials are exported, and industries include textiles, leather, and pottery. Porto is built on terraces cut into the steep northern slopes of the Douro gorge. It is connected to the southern suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia by the two-storey bridge of Dom Luis I, built by Eiffel, and which crosses the river in a single span of 160 m/525 ft at a height of

36 m/118 ft.

History
The ancient settlement, probably of pre-Roman origin, was known as Cale and later Portus Cale. It was captured by the Moors in AD 716 and retaken by the Christians in 1092; the town received its charter in 1115. It initially developed as a trading post with the Mediterranean area and was located on an important route linking Lisbon and Braga. The city itself was fortified by the Romans, and these walls were later reinforced in the 12th century. Maritime and commercial activities increased between the 13th and 15th centuries and a shipyard, one of the most important in Portugal, was established. Porto's outer, artificial harbour, constructed in 1890, helped spur the city's growth further.

Blue stands for the Pacific Ocean and water on which life depends. Yellow symbolizes the sun. Green represents the lush vegetation. Effective date: 18 November 1977. >>