One of the most attractive activities in Porto is a boat trip. It only takes 50 minutes, and you can see the city and its six most beautiful bridges. A walk along the river will remind you of the vital business of the inhabitants of Porto - transporting wine from the valley of the Douro River. Wine, produced in the Douro valley, was already in the 13th century transported to Porto in Barcos rabelos (flat sailing vessels). In 1703, the Methuen Treaty established the trade relations between Portugal and England. In 1717, a first English trading post was established in Porto. The production of port wine then gradually passed into the hands of a few English firms. To counter this English dominance, Prime Minister Marquis of Pombal established a Portuguese firm receiving the monopoly of the wines from the Douro valley. He demarcated the region for the production of port, to ensure the wine's quality; this was the first attempt to control wine quality and production in Europe. The small winegrowers revolted against his strict policies on Shrove Tuesday, burning down the buildings of this firm. The revolt was called Revolta dos Borrachos (revolt of the drunks).

Photo By Turismo En Portugal - De cruzeiro das 6 pontes, Porto, CC BY 2.0