How Porto is reinventing its wine heritage

A multimillion-euro reimagination of Porto’s storied wine district has made it even more of a draw for tourists. Lauren Jade Hill explores

Porto’s regenerated district is breathing new life into the city (WOW)

Many locals in Porto will tell you that while Lisbon is the capital of Portugal, Porto is Portugal. This historic city of cobbled streets leading to blue and white azulejo-tiled landmarks on slopes rising up from the Douro River played a significant part in the nation’s early formation.

The region is considered the birthplace of the nation, with the country’s name even deriving from the two riverside areas: Porto on one bank and Vila Nova di Gaia on the other. The early name for Gaia, Cale, and neighbouring port named Portus by the Romans created the area known as Portus Cale, which is said to be the origin of the word Portugal.

Travellers can venture into the rich terrain that generated northern Portugal’s agricultural wealth and see how its proximity to rivers and the Atlantic made it a hub for trade, with port production standing out as a significant factor in the city’s early success.