Porto walking tour

This scavenger hunt has a difficulty level of NORMAL.

Buy either an individual or a group ticket. The ideal group size is 3 to 6 people, but it is not limited to this. Children are welcome and will enjoy most of the challenges.

After purchase, to begin your Porto walking tour, you will need to be in front of the São Bento Train Station, at Almeida Garrett Place, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal. This is the start location.

Once there, stand outside, log in to this website, and begin your hunt, or go to My Account and follow the instructions.

Ancient History

People lived here as early as 300 BC. During the Roman occupation, it was called Portus Cale and was already an important commercial port. Its period name, Portus Cale, is considered the origin of Portugal, the country’s name.

The city remained important during the Suebian and Visigothic periods as Christianity expanded.

In 711, the Moors invaded the Iberian Peninsula, including Porto, expanding Islam.

By 868, the Vimara Peres Account established the county of Portugal after the reconquest north of the Douro.

In 1387, John I married Philippa de Lancaster, symbolizing and initiating a strong alliance between Portugal and England. Indeed, this is the oldest documented alliance, sealed by the Treaty of Windsor.

Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Porto contributed greatly to shipbuilding for the Age of Discovery, when Portuguese explorers sailed along the west coast of Africa, to India, and to South America.

Modern History

In the 18th century, the export of Port wines was already significant. The Marquis de Pombal, prime minister in 1717, established a Portuguese company to manage the quality and quantity of wines from this region. In fact, this is the first wine-appellation region in Europe.

In 1809, Napoleonic forces invaded Porto. Indeed, a large section of the population attempted to flee through the Ponte das Barcas, a pontoon bridge. The bridge crumbled under the weight, and many perished. Duke of Wellington’s English army drove the French out of Porto.

A liberal revolution began here in 1820, leading to the adoption of a constitution in 1822. In 1828, King Miguel I rejected the constitution and provoked a civil war that lasted until 1834.

Porto is often called the city of bridges. The Ponte das Barcas, the first steel railway bridge, opened in 1843 and was designed by Gustave Eiffel.

Finally, the revolt against the monarchy began here in 1891. It was not until 1910 that the monarchy was replaced by the first republic.