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The Porto area is known worldwide as the "green coast," and it's easy to see why. The northern Portugal destination offers views and tranquility that you will never forget, with the river Douro flowing through rugged gorges and grapes ripening on sunny terraces carved in the contours of towing rocky mountainsides. The city Porto, also called Oporto, is the second largest city in Portugal. The sweet and velvety Port wine ("vinho do Porto"), which takes its name from the city, is the lifeblood of the Douro Valley. The potent mixture of rich, sweet red wine and brandy is an acquired taste that is never lost once gotten. The wine is cultivated and produced in the mountains along the river Douro, where tradition holds strong and modern mechanization has yet to conquer -- if you're lucky, you may arrive in Porto just in time to celebrate the harvest time grape-crushing parties or see the maturing wine in special oak barrels in the many caves near the river in Porto. Tourists can also drive over one of the famous bridges into Vila Nova de Gaia and see miles of wine lodges who offer free tastings amongst the stunning mountain vistas, or view the old square-rigged, flat-bottomed wine barges which once carried the precious cargo down the Douro to the rest of the world. There is a Portuguese saying, "Lisbon plays, Braga prays, Porto works," and you may find out the truth of that statement should you try to visit Porto's downtown area during the week in working hours. The narrow cobblestone streets are crowded with shops and picturesque businesses, not to mention cars and bustling citizens. For a touch of quiet, you may prefer visiting Foz, the upscale area of Porto where the Douro runs into the Atlantic. During the day, the area is quiet enough for visitors to enjoy tranquil views from the beaches. The Foz night life is more hopping, with bar after bar for almost a mile of beach bar-hopping.