Venue

Casa da Música

Casa da Música is Porto's iconic performing arts venue, described in the New York Times as "one of the most important concert halls built in the last 100 years."

Designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas as a European Culture Capital project, Casa da Música opened in 2005. The building houses two auditoria, rehearsal rooms, and recording studios, as well as numerous flexible spaces for temporary exhibitions and other musical, educational, and cultural events.

Casa da Música offers diverse programming of the highest quality. See www.casadamusica.com for further details.

Porto

Referred to as Portugal's Capital of the North, Porto was selected as the 2001 European Capital of Culture. Historic references to the city stretch back to Roman times, although Celtic and pre-Celtic remnants of ancient citadels have been found at the heart of where Porto now lies.

The city gained historical importance in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries as its shipyards contributed to the development of the Portuguese fleet. It is known largely for its trade in Port wine, named after the city because it was originally shipped from the area.

Today, Porto is admired for its enterprising spirit and characteristic culture. Visitors will see an array of architectural gems from Roman, Gothic, Baroque, Neoclassic, and Renaissance eras in this scenic city built into the granite cliffs at the mouth of the River Douro. Ribeira, the historic centre of Porto, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996.

For further information on Porto's history, sights, and attractions, see www.portoturismo.pt.