Key dates
| Date | What happens | What to see today |
|---|---|---|
| Roman era | Portus Cale, a port on the Douro | The Ribeira district |
| 1354 | Grant of the city's coat of arms, according to Flags of the World | The city hall, Avenida dos Aliados |
| 1394 | Birth of Henry the Navigator in Porto, according to tradition | The Casa do Infante |
| 1832-1833 | Siege of Porto, which earns the city its title "unvanquished" | The historic centre |
| 1886 | Dom Luís I Bridge opens | The Dom Luís I Bridge |
| 1996 | The historic centre joins UNESCO | The historic centre |
| 2001 | Porto, European Capital of Culture | The Casa da Música |
What does "Invicta" mean? Porto's nickname, "the unvanquished", recalls its resistance in the siege of 1832-1833, when Dom Pedro IV's liberals were besieged by supporters of Dom Miguel.
The coat of arms, flag and motto
The current coat of arms rests on a grant dated 8 May 1354 according to the Flags of the World site: it shows the Virgin and Child between two towers, topped by a mural crown of five towers. The municipal flag is a green and white gyronny of eight bearing the arms. The motto is tied to the siege of 1832-1833: sources do not agree on the exact date of its current form, and the heraldic elements are much older. Check on site: the flag and arms appear on the city hall (see Avenida dos Aliados).
Where to see the history in a day
- Morning: the Sé cathedral, São Bento station and its azulejos.
- Midday: the Ribeira and the Casa do Infante.
- Afternoon: the Stock Exchange Palace and Avenida dos Aliados.
- Late afternoon: Dom Luís I Bridge at sunset.
Practical tips
- A guided tour of the old town helps link the eras: choose a small-group one.
- For a full day, read Porto in one day.
- Monument hours change: check each page.
Which option to choose?
- Short on time: the Sé, the Ribeira and the bridge.
- One day: add the Stock Exchange and the Casa do Infante.
- With a guide: the old town and monuments tour.
La rédaction Porto Authority, 26/10/2026.
