Historic Center of Porto

As a Portuguese saying goes: "Lisbon shows off, Braga prays, Coimbra studies and Porto works". And indeed, this commercial hub at the delta of the Douro River is a grittier, more down-to-earth, and unashamedly industrious element of the "big four", with the thriving center of the Port wine industry setting the city's pace. Yet, tipsy or not, if you throw yourself into the Historic Center of Porto, you'll be surprised to discover that the urban development inscribed itself neatly into the historical fabric and made it shine so beautifully that there's just no end to rambling the narrow, ascending streets that lead from the magnificent cathedral and its Romanesque choir to the neoclassical Stock Exchange, then to numerous museums, old-fashioned shops, and eventually, cozy restaurants where the city's flagship product can be blissfully enjoyed.