Porto & the Douro: a Visitors Guide

Visitors, initially lured to Porto more by their taste buds than by a desire to sightsee, soon find themselves embarking on their own voyage of discovery. Those that do soon realise why this major city is listed as a World Heritage site. Be sure to head for the Barredo and Ribeiro quarters of the city where the vibrancy, character and energy of the real Porto seep into the senses and capture the imagination. Fortunately, most of the `sights' are found in or around this relatively small area but be prepared for plenty of uphill work, there's nothing much on the level in this part of the city.
 Having sampled the nectar in Porto, many visitors continue on to the Douro to discover the birthplace of port wine. Deeply incised valleys, rugged terrain, impoverished soil from granite and schist rocks in the Alto Douro make it a most unlikely region for home of one of Europe's best known wines. Nevertheless, attracted by the fame of the wine, a fund of romantic stories from the past and the lure of uncompromising scenic beauty, the Douro has been and remains the most visited region of the north.
The final chapter relates the incredible story of port wine, from the British influence, the battles with the river, the vineyards themselves to the characters involved who are now part of history.