The Historic Centre of Oporto is a commercial port that has been looking to the west for its trade for over 1000 years. The nominated area is enclosed within the 14th century city walls.The city is situated along the river Douro, which has three impressive bridges (one of these, the Ponte de Doña Maria Pia, was built in 1877 by Gerard Eiffel). The old city centre lies on a steep hill. It is full of cathedrals, churches, monasteries and a bishops palace. All buildings were erected between the 1