nue des Aliados abrite la Praça da Liberdade où les rues piétonnes pavées de magnifiques mosaïques stylisées, ont un air de Brésil. Between tradition and modernity. Porto, also known as Cidade Invicta («the undefeated city») and previously called Portus Cale, Portugal itself derives its name from the city. According to many visitors there is something mystical and hard to describe here. It probably relates to its people and their hospitality, to its cobbled streets, and also to its riverbanks along the Douro River and the rich wine trading history.Ribeira which is famous for its colorful houses, is the most emblematic district and the historic center of the city. The wharf is full of bars and restaurants and the Dom Luis I bridge which was built by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, leads to the shore of the Douro and the famous Port wine cellars. To soak up the spirit of the city, there’s nothing like a stroll to admire the façades and halls decorated with Azulejos such as the Carmelites Church and the São Bento railway station. The Sé Cathedral, a jewel of the Baroque style, is also not to be missed, as well as the Clérigos tower, the Stock Exchange Palace and the Hotel Palácio do Freixo where prestigious evenings are organized. At the heart of the city, you will find the Avenue dos Aliados with the Praça da Liberdade where the cobbled pedestrian streets are beautifully decorated with mosaics resemblances with Brazil.
Parler de tradition, c’est également parler des coutumes étudiantes qui rythment la ville. La «praxe académica», née au XIXème siècle, est un véritable rite de passage. En mai, on voit les étudiants arpenter les rues, accompagnés par les Tunas, ces groupes musicaux universitaires et traditionnels. Leurs capes noires tombant sur leurs chevilles, ils semblent tout droit sortis de l’univers magique d’Harry Potter, mais en réalité c’est l’inverse. JK Rowling ayant vécu à Porto, elle dit s’être inspirée de ces traditions ainsi que de la Librairie Lello, connue comme «l’une des plus belles du monde», pour écrire Harry Potter. Tradition relates to the student customs which punctuate the city. The «praxe académica», born in the nineteenth century, is a rite of passage. In May, students walk the streets together alongside the Tunas, the traditional music bands from the University. With their black cloaks falling around their ankles, they seem to come straight out of the magical world of Harry Potter, but in reality it is the opposite. JK Rowling lived in Porto and said that she was inspired by these local traditions as well as the Lello bookstore renowned for being one of the most beautiful in the world. WM N°2 • 77