Recent excavations have found that Praca de Ribeira was created on the site of a very old dock from the days when commercial vessels used the river as a port.

The old houses of the area have been recognized by UNESCO and given World Heritage Site status. The hotel is surrounded by small restaurants in the old buildings.

Guests should take the opportunity to walk across the old iron two level bridge to visit the Port Wine lodges on the south bank in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Nearly all of the wine lodges have guided tours which explain the fascinating process that is required to make the world famous port wine. 

The law on Port Wine production requires that the blending to make the product takes place in a defined area of Vila Nova de Gaia or, nowadays, on the grape growing 'quintas' upriver. No Port Wine is produced in Porto itself which is on the north bank of the river

The Pestana Porto Hotel has a total of 48 rooms including 3 suites and single rooms.

All the rooms have private bathroom, air conditioning and heating, direct dial telephone, satellite television, radio, safe, mini bar and hairdryer.

The deluxe rooms and suites are the most sought after since they also have views over the Douro River.

The bar and other public rooms are furnished to provide an elegant and relaxing atmosphere.

The hotel's 'Vintage Restaurant' offers a range of regional and international dishes from an  'A la Carte' menu.

Facilities at the Pestana Porto Hotel include elevator, non-smoking rooms and a room for disabled persons.  There are also 4 conference rooms suitable for up to 90 people, all with audio-visual equipment.

In the days of the Discoveries, the fleet used to leave Porto and the Douro river for the newly discovered lands of America, Brazil and the Far East. Before they left, they used to buy all the meat available in the city. 

As a result the wives and children left at home only had the offal to eat. To this day the people from Porto are known as 'Os Tripeiras' (tripe eaters). One of the specialty dishes in the restaurants worth trying is 'Tripas a moda do Porto'.

A visit should be made to Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar and its round cloister which is at the far end of the upper bridge. From here there is a splendid view of the river, the bridge and the city. You will also be standing in one of the most famous spots in military history. 

During the Peninsular Wars it was from here that the Duke of Wellington (then Lord Wellesley) directed the crossing of the Douro River to take Porto which was held by Napoleon's army. It was before the iron bridge was constructed and the bridge was a line of boats lashed together with the road running across on top. Napoleon pulled all these boats to the Porto side to deny the bridge to Wellington. Napoleon expected the usual tactic of a crossing near the sea supported by the fire af the naval fleet.

Wellington and his troops marched overnight from the south and reached the Douro River in the early morning, he took up position at the monastery and sent scouts along the south bank of the river to report back.

The scouts returned from a mile or so up river, and told Wellington that they had met a Portuguese man who had told them where two boats were hidden. These were used to send a small detachment across and take a monastery on the Porto side up river. The first counter attack failed and so Napoleon moved most of his army upriver to drive back this small crossing.

The inhabitants of Porto seized this opportunity to use the boats in Porto to go across the river in front of the hotel and bring the British army across. The battle was won by lunchtime and Wellington was able to eat the evening meal that the chefs had started to prepare for Napoleon.