Porto walking tour

This scavenger hunt has a difficulty level of NORMAL.

The ideal group size is between 2 and 6 people – but is not restricted 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 Sao Bento Train Station, at Almeida Garrett Place, 4000-069 Porto, Portugal. This is the start location.

Once there, stand outside and 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, its name was 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 Visigoth periods in the expansion of Christianity.

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, it was here that John I married Philippa de Lancaster, symbolizing and initiating a strong alliance between Portugal and England. It is the oldest documented alliance by the Treaty of Windsor.

Between the 14th and 15th centuries, Porto contributed greatly to shipbuilding for the Age of Discovery where Portuguese explorers sailed the west coast of Africa, India, and 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. As a matter of 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 out the French from Porto.

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

Porto is often called the city of bridges. After the Ponte das Barcas, the first steel bridge for railways opened in 1843, 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.