The City

Porto (a.k.a. Oporto) is Portugal's second-largest city, with 300 000 inhabitants, and the heart of an area of great vitality, with a population of 1.2 million, ideal gateway to the undiscovered North of Portugal.

The social and trade relations that Porto has developed over time with Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, Brazil, India and Japan, are reflected in the city's rich Cultural Heritage. From the remains of Visigotic and Celtic villages, Roman roads, bridges and Castros to Romanesque and Gothic churches and Cathedrals built during the Medieval Age, centuries of mankind-built heritage are to be discovered in and around Porto. The recognition of Porto by UNESCO (in 1996) as a World Heritage City, is undoubtedly a tribute to its wealth of over two thousand years of history. At the beginning of a new Millennium, Porto is proud to present a Historic Centre consisting of over 150 classified monuments. In 2001, Porto has been a European Capital of Culture.

The city of Porto and its river, Douro, cannot be dissociated. The Douro valley, with its lovely terraces of vineyards clinging to the hillsides, is the kingdom of the famous Port Wine and offers visitors spectacular views. From springtime till autumn many festivals and fairs follow in rapid succession in the whole Northern Portugal. June 24 is Porto largest annual festival, celebrating the city patron saint, São João (Saint John).

From the science point of view, the Metropolitan Area of Porto has various Universities, Polytechnics, I&D and Professional Institutes that cover all areas of study for more than 50'000 students. This year's edition of the Euromicro Conference on Real-Time Systems will be held at the Polytechnic Institute of Porto (ISEP-IPP).

The friendly welcoming nature of the Portuguese people, highly professional and cost-effective services are a guarantee of a successful event and will give you something to remember in the future.

More information about Porto is available at: http://www.portoturismo.pt/en/

Going Out