Oporto, Portugal

Oporto is the second largest city in Portugal and the unofficial capital of northern Portugal, which is named after Oporto (Portus Cale in Roman times).
The city was founded in pre-Roman times by Celtic peoples. It was a lesser city during the Roman period, used as an intermediate port between Olissipo (Lisbon) and Bracara Augusta (Braga). It was under Muslim rule for 150 years and was reconquered in 868 by D. Vimara Peres, a Galician Knight and a vassal of the King of Leon.
In 1387 King John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster were married in Oporto, beginning Portugal's oldest standing alliance, with England. It was also from Oporto that the Portuguese forces embarked to conquer the city of Ceuta, initiating the Age of Discoveries.
By the end of the 18th century, Oporto emerged as an important industrial centre.
During the 19th century, Oporto became one of the main stages of several wars, first the Napoleonic invasions and later the civil war between liberals and absolutists, with Oporto siding with the liberals.
In 1996 Oporto's historic centre was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO.

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Local: Porto, Portugal

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