Places to See
Porto e Norte
The baroque in Porto | The baroque in Porto |
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Baroque Porto is home to the unusual baroque decoration of carved and gilded woodwork on blue and white tiles. Porto is an old city that gave its name to both Portugal as a nation and the world-famous Port wine. But the city is also steeped in baroque design. Here, you will find a church that will take your breath away: the Igreja de São Francisco, with an interior that is completely lined with gold. The church dates back to the discovery of gold and precious stones in Brazil. And it was the enormous wealth that this generated and the availability of exotic wood from the new continents that made it possible to create works of this opulence. Porto also boasts many other examples of stunning baroque design. The Igreja do Carmo, covered on the outside with blue and white tiles; the Igreja de Santa Clara, a harmonious combination of wooden carvings and tiles, and the Torre dos Clérigos (Nicolau Nasoni’s masterpiece and Porto’s most distinctive monument) are just three examples of mesmerising architecture. |
| Capital (and largest city) |
Lisbon 38°46′N, 9°11′W |
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| Official languages | Portuguese | |
|---|---|---|
| Recognised regional languages | Mirandese | |
| Demonym | Portuguese | |
| Government | Parliamentary republic | |
| - | President | Aníbal Cavaco Silva |
| - | Prime Minister | José Sócrates |
| Formation | June 24, 1128 | |
| - | Founding of the First County of Portugal | 868 |
| - | Battle of São Mamede | June 24, 1128 |
| - | Kingdom | 25 July 1139 |
| - | Recognized | 5 October 1143 |
| - | Republic | 5 October 1910 |
| - | Carnation Revolution | 25 April 1974 |
| EU accession | 1 January 1986 | |
| Area | ||
| - | Total | 92,345 km² (110th) 35,580 sq mi |
| - | Water (%) | 0.5 |
| Population | ||
| - | July 2007 estimate | 10,848,692 (75th) |
| - | 2001 census | 10,148,259 |
| - | Density | 114/km² (87th) 295/sq mi |
| GDP (PPP) | 2006 estimate | |
| - | Total | $229.881 billion (40th) |
| - | Per capita | $23,464 (2007) (34th) |
| HDI (2005) | ▼ 0.897 (high) (29th) | |
| Currency | Euro (€) (EUR) | |
| Time zone | WET | |
| - | Summer (DST) | WEST (UTC0) |
| Internet TLD | .pt | |
| Calling code | +351 | |