Costa Verde is the second largest city in Portugal and is located on the northwest coast of Portugal. It is considered as the coffers of Portugal, being the center of finance and commerce in the country. Even with this modernity, the locale has stunning natural environs, white beaches and beautiful wineries making the city truly a unique place to visit for foreigners and locals alike. There are many offerings for the varied interests and enjoyments of the visitors to the Emerald Locale, and one can surely find the most suitable one while enjoying the history, culture and cuisine of the area.
The Costa Verde is in actuality the tourist area that comprises the districts of Minho and the greater part of Douro Litoral. The area is a swath of land area from the City of Porto right up to the Spanish border and the Viana do Castelo. The area has six sub-regions covering three districts of the eighteen spread throughout Portugal. There are many historic and interesting sites up and down this area that will surely pique the interest of many tourists. Primary among these locales are the towns of Braga and Guimaraes, as these are frequented by the young and the jet set. These towns offer the very best of Portuguese hospitality and culture that often guests become inebriated with a heady feeling of enjoying their lives in the wide expanse of the region called the Costa Verde.
One of the first items of historic interest in the region is that this is the birthplace of King Dom Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first king. It was under the reign of King Henriques that Portugal was unified and was able to drive out the Moors from the country. As can be seen all throughout the area, Moorish influence still pervades in the architecture, cuisine and culture. Costa Verde is divided into three districts. These three districts are Viena de Castelo, Braga and Porto. Its climate is perfect for tourists, with mild dry summers and calm wet winters spread in seasons all year round.
Porto, or also known as Oporto, is one of the most charming albeit more older towns in Costa Verde. It is located in the southernmost part of Portugal, embracing the Duroro River. It is the acclaimed capital of the Costa Verde region. Within the city of Porto has an international airport and has the best and the most modern road system in Portugal. The tourist scene in the city is diverse, as there are many historic places, beautiful parks and gardens, and the delights one can enjoy in Oporto are many. The city has been subjected to conflicts of both local and foreign origin. Despite the many conflicts throughout its history, the populace has kept steadfast in its perseverance to survive and overcome. This overall feeling has been passed over generations, making it one of the academic centers, with the Universidade de Porto and the surrounding merchants and commerce of the city.
The city is also most known for the inebriating spirit affectionally called “Porto”. The grapes come from the lower slopes up in the middle area of the River Douro to be brought downstream to the city. Scattered on the riverbank are many manufacturers and artisans that make the renowned distilled spirit. A similar product is indigenous to the area and it is called Vinho Verde or young green wine. Though not as popular as Porto, Vinho Verde is said to capture Costa Verde’s spirit in a bottle.
One of the towns of Costa Verde is Braga, which is best known for the magnificent edifices that populate its skyline. The town was the original capital of the district in the medieval times, making for the many structures that are of the era’s design including the imposing castle in Braga. Guimaraes is the second town of great interest in the area. In 1139, Portugal’s first king, Dom Afonso Henriques declared in the town’s cathedral to conquer the rights to a kingdom and enlarge his fiefdom known as Portucale into a kingdom to be known as Portugal, where he will stand as king. His words rang true as from this area he was able to unify and proclaim his dream of a unified Portugal under his rule.
One of the reserves in the Costa Verde region is the Parque da Penada Gerez. In the nature reserve, many kinds of indigenous flora and fauna can be found, making it one of the serene natural environs in Costa Verde. The very northern part of the area is the Minho River basin, which lies on the border with Spain. The capital of this area is Braga and is said to have been founded by the Celts in 300 BC. From there, it developed into a Roman administrative center and continued on its career as an industrial as well as a religious area for tourists and visitors alike. One of the main edifices in the city is the Braga capital, the religious center of Minho. Another favored tourist destination are the locales around Pinhao and Sao Joao da Pesquiera. These farmland areas make use of the arable land even on the steep walls of the valley. This area is said to be the very heart of the wine industry, making it also a center of industry and culture in the Costa Verde Region.
The economy of the Costa Verde is greatly dependent on the Valley of the Douro River. It has a great agricultural base from the fertile areas surrounding it. Also, much of the income of the area comes from the trade and commerce of Port wine. It has also become one of the most industrialized regions in Portugal. This is best shown by the presence of many large corporations and businesses that call the area its headquarters. The tourism industry is also one of the cash cows of Costa Verde, especially during the high summer season as tourists come in droves to enjoy the sights and delights of the area. As its name implies, the Costa Verde is the one of the jewels of the Portuguese crown, the emerald locale for all to visit and enjoy.