The place where I live is more or less 11 km from the center of Porto. Whenever I can I go to the city center, because I love being in this environment.

On the bank of Vila Nova de Gaia the Rebelo boats are one of the main symbols of Porto. These flattened boats, which today rest silently by the river, were the nautical horses used to transport the barrels of Port wine from the best wineries in the Douro wine region to the cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia. For centuries, when there were no suitable roads or railway lines, rabelo boats were the most reliable means of transport, if only because of their exclusivity.

Nowadays the rabelo boats no longer challenge the Douro River instead, they wait anxiously in Vila Nova de Gaia for the only day of the year when they can sail the waters again on the day of São João, the most cherished saint in the city.

We can also see the D. Luís I bridge, a landmark of the city of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. The structure that connects these two riverside areas was designed by the Belgian engineer Teófilo Seyrig, one of the disciples of the French architect Gustave Eiffel responsible for the Eiffel Tower, in Paris.
The D. Luís I bridge was built to replace an old suspension bridge that existed there. It was inaugurated in 1886. The iron arch that is so characteristic is considered the largest arch in the world in wrought iron.

If you come to Porto do not forget to see this area of Porto, you will not regret it.