Porto Luxury Hotels & Destination
Porto Portugal Luxury Destination
Porto, Portugal is perched on a rocky gorge cut by the Douro River. This delightful hilly city presents the luxury hotel traveler with a mixture of styles, attitudes and eras that make it a unique luxury hotel destination. Everywhere you turn, historic buildings, bridges and parks are preserved for your personal delight. Although an industrial city, this provincial capital contains unique treasures and a sense of industriousness that makes Porto worthy of investigation by the luxury hotel visitor.
Porto Luxury Hotels
Although Porto abounds with history, the selection of luxury hotels ranges from ancient to modern. You can choose to stay in an elegant historic luxury hotel with period furniture and old world charm. Even though the building and furniture is luxuriously antique, Porto luxury hotels possess modern conveniences from HD television to high speed internet. Your Porto luxury hotel stay offers the best of both worlds and the sophisticated service and personalized attention you receive will make for truly fabulous memories.
Porto History
The origins of Porto's urban center date back to the Late Bronze Age (approximately 8th Century BC). When the Romans occupied Porto it was already populated with impressive buildings and a fine harbor. It is during the time of the Roman Empire that the name Portucale was given to the city. It is from this that the name Porto is derived.
In the 8th Century, the town of Porto was sacked by the Moorish invaders. In the next few centuries the town was successively conquered by Christian and Moorish forces. In 982, Porto fell for the final time to Christian forces under the Count of Burgundy. To honor this victory he ordered a cathedral built. Although this particular cathedral no longer exists, subsequent cathedrals have been built on the foundations, culminating in the Porto Cathedral of the central city. The Porto Cathedral was built in the 12th century when Queen “Donha Teresa” donated the town to the Bishop Hugo.
By the end of the 14th century, Porto had a very important role in securing the independence of Portugal. Porto supported the Mestre de Aviz, who became the first king of the second dynasty and the father of the famous “Henrique the Navigator”, who launched the era of the Portuguese discoveries overseas.
The city grew slowly in the next couple of centuries. In 1580, the city was occupied by Spanish troops. Porto benefited from this occupation as it began a period of great urban and administrative development which lasted even after the Spanish withdrew in 1640.
In 1703 the "Treaty of Methuen" was signed between Portugal and England. It established rules for commercial trade of wool from England and wine from Portugal. This mutually beneficial arrangement led to the founding of a number of English firms in Porto such as Taylor and Graham that expanded the port-wine industry.
The city of Porto was invaded by the French troops of Napoleon in 1809. When the French withdrew the city remain in a state of unrest which culminated in a series of rebellions. The last of these took place in 1891. A lengthy settlement period resulted, finally, in the creation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910. Wine profits have funded Porto’s industrialization and today Porto is the economic capital of northern Portugal surpassed only by Lisbon in terms of social and economic power.
In 1996, the historic center of Porto was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Porto Attractions
Porto is luxury hotel destination with many historic landmarks. Foremost of these is Porto Cathedral. Here Prince Henry the Navigator was baptized and King John I married the English Princess Philippa of Lancaster in the 14th century. When visiting, luxury hotel guests should take time to admire the silver altarpiece and the Gothic cloisters. Perhaps the most impressive church in Porto is the Sao Francisco Church one of Port’s few remaining medieval buildings. The magnificent interior of gilt wood carving represents the finest workshops in Porto. What is not covered in pure gold is made of rich marble. It is certainly one of the most opulent buildings luxury hotel travelers will see in all of Europe. The luxury hotel visitor will notice the peculiarity of the Cedofeita Church. The Romanesque architecture presents a single nave covered by a stone vault support by massive buttresses on the exterior walls.
Romantic Museum of Quinta da Mineirinha reproduces the interior of a rich dwelling of the 19th century. Luxury hotel guests will enjoy the decorative arts of that period. Charles Albert, King of Piedmont and Sardinia, spent his last days in exile in this Porto landmark.
The Soares Dos Reis Museum was Portugal's first national museum. Founded in 1833 to display the collected works from dissolved monasteries and convents, it in sharply contrasts the Porto Museum of Contemporary Art of the Serralves Foundation, a modern minimalist structure surrounded by beautiful gardens. The Serralves Museum has no permanent collection hosting temporary exhibitions that take up the entire space. Consult with your Porto luxury hotel concierge when planning your visit to find out what will be exhibited.
No luxury hotel getaway to Porto would be complete without a stop at the Port Wine Museum. This museum celebrates the fortified wine that takes its name from. The Porto is located in an 18th century warehouse where the wines of Companhia Geral da Agricultura das Vinhas do Alto Douro were once stored.
Luxury hotel visitor to Porto may find that a walking tour proves the best way to view the remarkable architecture that Porto contains. However, be sure to wear comfortable shoes as Porto is often hilly and the tour is guaranteed to work up an appetite!
Porto Dining
Porto boasts some of the finest restaurants in Portugal and several traditional dishes that the luxury hotel guests won’t find elsewhere. Citizens of Porto are known as tripe eaters (tripeiros) because of this dish that is indicative of their altruistic attitude. Prepared from veal tripe, sausages and butter beans Porto Style Tripe is a symbol of the character of the Porto people. Francesinha is another dish luxury hotel guests are unlikely to find anywhere other than Porto. A piece of toast loaded with juicy meat covered with cheese and a spicy sauce, it should be consumed with beer not wine. Something luxury hotel guests must try is bacalhau or salted codfish. Although prepared in a variety of ways, the Bacalhau com Natas prepared with cream, potatoes and onions is practically considered the national dish of Portugal. Porto’s plethora of bakeries and pastry shoppes produce delicious treats and serve all sorts of delicious coffee drinks and tasty sandwiches. Portuguese cuisine is robust and at its heart the hungry luxury hotel visitor will find quality ingredients simply prepared preserving their distinctive flavors. Portugal’s coastline means a passion for seafood. Porto luxury hotel guests will find that the cuisine of Porto offers an opportunity to explore a love for fine fare.
Porto Shopping
Porto and its suburbs is where luxury hotel visitors will find plenty of shopping centers such as Norte Shopping, Cidade Bom Sucesso, Arribida Shopping, Parque Nascente and more. Your Porto luxury hotel concierge can assist with any specialty items that you are searching for. The city of Gaia just south of the Douro River is where luxury hotel guests will find Port wine. The city also has great deals on clothing and footwear. A concept store named MUUDA on Rosario Street features a variety of items and products signed by Portuguese artists. Along with indulging in a scrumptious lunch, interested luxury hotel guests are welcomed to participate in a sushi or wine workshop, learn to make tricot, experiment with a new painting technique and more.
Porto has beautifully preserved the past while embracing the future, making for a delightful luxury hotel destination that is certain to intrigue the most discerning of travelers. Plan a Porto luxury hotel getaway for a taste of something different, exciting and exceptionally unique.
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