Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Portugal - Porto in 1736


Oporto
Porto - 1736

mailed in 2011

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Porto, also known as Oporto in English, is the second largest city in Portugal.

Located along the Douro river estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin for the name "Portugal," based on transliteration from Latin.

One of Portugal's internationally famous exports, port wine, is named for Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular the adegas of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the production and export of the fortified wine. (See postcard below)

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