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36-680: The square is located in the historical district of Ribeira ( riverside in Portuguese), part of the São Nicolau parish . The Ribeira district spreads alongside the Douro river and used to be a centre of intense commercial and manufacturing activity since the Middle Ages. Also since that time the Ribeira Square was the site of many shops that sold fish, bread, meat and other goods. In 1491 the buildings around

72-567: A new street, the São João Street, that connected the Ribeira Square and the upper town, and promoted the reurbanisation of the square itself. The project, executed between 1776 and 1782, is credited to John Whitehead, English consul in Porto. The square was to become enclosed on its north, west and east sides by buildings with arcades, while the south side of the square, facing the Douro, was enclosed by

108-479: A prosperous tourist industry has developed based on river excursions from Porto to points along the Upper Douro valley. The Douro railway line ( Linha do Douro ) was completed in 1887; it connects Porto, Rio Tinto, Ermesinde, Valongo, Paredes, Penafiel, Livração, Marco de Canaveses, Régua, Tua and Pocinho. Pocinho is near the very small city of Foz Côa, which is close to Côa Valley Paleolithic Art site. This

144-619: Is continental and Mediterranean , with more than 2,400 hours of annual sunlight. Vineyards occupy around 120 square kilometres (46 sq mi) of the region, most of which are situated in the province of Burgos , with around 5 square kilometres (1.9 sq mi) in Valladolid and 6 square kilometres (2.3 sq mi) in Soria. Wines produced in the Ribera del Duero DO derive almost exclusively from red grapes. The vast majority of production

180-478: Is a Spanish Denominación de Origen Protegida (DOP) located in the country's northern plateau and is one of eleven 'quality wine' regions within the autonomous community of Castile and León . It is also one of several recognised wine-producing regions to be found along the course of the Duero river . The region is characterised by a largely flat, rocky terrain and is centred on the town of Aranda de Duero , although

216-571: Is around 35 kilometres (22 mi) at its widest. The region is located around the younger stretches of the river, which later passes through the nearby Toro and Rueda regions before traversing the famous Portuguese growing areas of Douro and Porto , where it drains into the Atlantic Ocean . Geologically, tertiary sediments, consisting of gently lenticular layers of silty or clayey sand, alternate with layers of limestone , marl and chalky concretions . The Duero valley, formed during

252-797: Is cognate with modern Breton dour and Cornish dur "water" and results from a later typical Brittonic evolution of *dubro- , unknown in the Continental Celtic languages . The possible origin is the hydronymic root *dur- , which is Pre-Indo-European or Pre-Celtic . Albert Dauzat linked this river name to a Pre-Celtic hydronymic root *dor- , which is well attested in Western Europe : in France Doire , Doron , Douron, etc. and in Italy Dora , etc. The meaning of this element is, however, unknown. A folk-etymological derivation suggests that

288-510: Is considered important to the archaeological pre-historic patrimony, and it has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Fifteen dams have been built on the Douro to regulate the water flow, generate hydroelectric power , and allow navigation through locks . Beginning at the headwaters, the first five dams are in Spain: Cuerda del Pozo , Los Rábanos , San José , Villalcampo and Castro Dams . The next five downstream are along

324-524: Is dedicated to Tinto Fino (the local name for Tempranillo ), the dominant red varietal in the northern half of the Spanish peninsula. Tinto Fino is often, but not always, complemented with Cabernet Sauvignon , Malbec and Merlot , although the famous Tinto Pesquera, grown by Alejandro Fernández in Pesquera de Duero , is a 100% Tempranillo varietal wine. The introduction of Pesquera's 100% Tinto Fino wine was, at

360-471: Is located on the extensive, elevated northern plateau of the Iberian Peninsula. It occupies the southern plains of the province of Burgos , extends west into Valladolid and includes parts of Segovia and Soria provinces to the south and east, respectively. As its name suggests, the region follows the course of the Duero river for approximately 115 kilometres (71 mi) upstream from Valladolid and

396-778: Is occupied by a modern statue of St John the Baptist by sculptor João Cutileiro . The square also has a modern cubic sculpture by José Rodrigues (nicknamed the Cubo da Ribeira ) over the remains of a 17th-century fountain. Nowadays the Ribeira Square is a favourite spot for tourists. 41°08′27″N 8°36′47″W  /  41.1407°N 8.6130°W  / 41.1407; -8.6130 Douro river The Douro ( UK : / ˈ d ʊər oʊ , ˈ d ʊər uː / , US : / ˈ d ɔːr uː , ˈ d ɔːr oʊ / , Portuguese: [ˈdo(w)ɾu] , Mirandese : [ˈdowɾʊ] ; Spanish : Duero [ˈdweɾo] ; Latin : Durius )

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432-573: Is the largest river of the Iberian Peninsula by discharge. It rises near Duruelo de la Sierra in the Spanish province of Soria , meanders briefly south, then flows generally west through the northern part of the Meseta Central in Castile and León into northern Portugal . Its largest tributary (carrying more water than the Douro at their confluence) is the right-bank Esla . The Douro flows into

468-717: The Aldeadávila Dam impounds the river, there are protected areas: the International Douro Natural Park (on the Portuguese side) and the Arribes del Duero Natural Park (on the Zamoran margin). The Douro fully enters Portuguese territory just after the confluence with the Águeda River ; once the Douro enters Portugal, major population centres are less frequent along the river. Except for Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia at

504-559: The Atlantic Ocean at Porto , the second largest city of Portugal. The scenic Douro railway line runs close to the river. Adjacent areas produce port (a mildly fortified wine) and other agricultural produce. A small tributary of the river has the Côa Valley Paleolithic Art site which is considered important to the archaeological pre-historic patrimony, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Within Spain, it flows through

540-461: The Burgundy region of France in the twelfth century. Ribera del Duero wine making goes back over 2,000 years as evidenced by the 66-meter mosaic of Bacchus , the god of wine that was unearthed relatively recently at Baños de Valdearados . The denominación de origen (D.O.) of Ribera del Duero was founded on 21 July 1982 by an organization of wine producers and growers who were determined to promote

576-555: The Douro Valley in Portugal, long devoted to vineyards , has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site . The wine was taken downriver in flat-bottom boats called rabelos , to be stored in barrels in cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia , just across the river from Porto . Nowadays port is transported there in tanker trucks. In the 1960s and 1970s, dams with locks were built along

612-642: The Miocene period, has a flat, rocky, gently undulating terrain, ranging from 911 metres (2,989 ft) down to 750 metres (2,460 ft) above sea level. The national highway N122 follows the river valley. The Ribera del Duero has moderate to low rainfall (450 millimetres (18 in) per year) and is exposed to quite extreme climatic conditions; long, dry summers with temperatures of up to 40 °C (104 °F) are followed by hard winters during which temperatures often come close to freezing. There are also marked variations in temperature within each season. The climate

648-483: The Ribera del Duero wine region. Sheep rearing is also still important. The drainage basin borders those of Miño to the north, Ebro to the east, and Tajo to the south. For 112 kilometres (70 mi), the river forms part of the border between Spain and Portugal , in a region of narrow canyons . It formed a historical barrier to invasions, creating a cultural/linguistic divide. In these isolated areas, in which

684-553: The D.O., some of them are: There are similarities between Rioja and Ribera del Duero. Whereas the wines are quite distinctive as a result of significant differences in terroir , both regions produce wines selected for long aging with highly complex vinification procedures, producing intense, extremely long-lived wines emanating from largely limestone soils. Wines are classified as much for their longevity as their grape quality, and Ribera del Duero produces some extremely well-aging wines. The aging requirements for Ribera del Duero are

720-602: The Douro River are Valladolid and Zamora in Spain, and Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal. The latter two are located at the mouth of the Douro at the Atlantic Ocean. In Portugal, the Douro flows through the districts of Bragança , Guarda , Viseu , Vila Real , Aveiro and Porto . Porto is the main hub city in northern Portugal. Its historic centre has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its significant architecture and history. These reaches of

756-431: The Douro have a mesoclimate allowing for cultivation of olives , almonds , and especially grapes , which are important for making port . The region around Pinhão and São João da Pesqueira is considered to be the centre of port, with its quintas (or farms/estates) that extend along the steep slopes of the river valleys. In the 21st century, many of these are owned by multinational, reputed wine companies. Recently,

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792-481: The Iberian Peninsula after the Tagus and Ebro . Its total length is 897 kilometres (557 mi), of which only sections of the Portuguese section, being below a fall/rapids line, are naturally navigable, by modest rivercraft. The Douro River basin encompasses an area of approximately 97,290 square kilometres. In its Spanish section, the Douro crosses the great Castilian meseta and meanders through five provinces of

828-516: The Portuguese-Spanish border; the first three are owned and operated by Portugal: ( Miranda , Picote and Bemposta Dams ), while the next two belong to Spain: ( Aldeadávila and Saucelle Dams ). The Douro's last five dams are in Portugal, and allow for navigation: Pocinho , Valeira , Régua , Carrapatelo , and Crestuma–Lever dams. Vessels with a maximum length of 83 metres (272 ft) and width of 11.4 metres (37 ft) can pass through

864-579: The autonomous community of Castile and León : Soria , Burgos , Valladolid , Zamora , and Salamanca , passing through the towns of Soria , Almazán , Aranda de Duero , Tordesillas , and Zamora . The most important tributaries in this region are the Pisuerga , passing through Valladolid , and the Esla , which passes through Zamora . This region is generally semi-arid plains, with wheat and in some places, especially near Aranda de Duero , with vineyards , in

900-654: The final vowel sound often changes with context, as in Latin). However, were that the case, the - b -, of which there remains no trace, would not have disappeared, as evidenced by place-names derived from Gaulish *dubron (plural dubra ), such as French Douvres and English Dover (3rd/4th-century Dubris ; Douvres in French), Spanish Dobra, German Tauber ( Dubra-gave 807), and Gaelic/ Old Irish dobur "water" and river name Dobhar in Ireland and Scotland. Modern Welsh dŵr "water"

936-431: The five locks . The highest lock, at Carrapatelo Dam, has a maximum lift of 35 metres (115 ft). The waters of Pocinho lake reach 125 metres (410 ft) above sea level. Unannounced releases of water from upstream Spanish dams occasionally causes navigation issues in these locks. Ribera del Duero 41°41′N 3°41′W  /  41.683°N 3.683°W  / 41.683; -3.683 Ribera del Duero

972-403: The medieval walls ( Muralhas Fernandinas ) of Porto. These walls were torn down in 1821, opening the square to the river. The Ribeira Square and its surrounding has been classified as Property of Public Interest since 1971. The northern part of the square has a monumental fountain, three storeys high, built in the 1780s and decorated with the coat-of-arms of Portugal. The niche of the fountain

1008-449: The middle of the autonomous community of Castile and León , with the basin spanning through the northern half of the Meseta Central . The latter includes wine producing areas such as the Ribera del Duero DOP. The Latin name Durius might have been a Celtic name before the overwhelming Romanization of Iberia. If so, the Celtic root could have been *dubro- (in that family of languages

1044-492: The most famous vineyards surround Peñafiel and Roa de Duero to the west, where the regional regulatory council or Consejo Regulador for the denominación is based. Ribera del Duero was named Wine Region of the Year 2012 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine . Wine has been produced in the region for thousands of years, but viticulture as we know it probably arrived in the Ribera del Duero region with Benedictine monks from Cluny in

1080-431: The name comes from the Portuguese or Spanish term for "golden". In Roman times, the river was personified as a god, Durius . Part of the drainage basin might have been severely depopulated in the 8th century. According to Claudio Sánchez-Albornoz this was a deliberate act by Alfonso I of Asturias for the defence of his Kingdom , which led the area to be named Repoblación . The Douro vinhateiro (vine-land) of

1116-444: The quality of their wines and enforce regulatory standards. Reports that it was set to be upgraded to denominación de origen calificada (DOCa) status in 2008 proved to be unfounded and, as at 2011, it remains a DO and has no plans to change. Ribero del Duero wines are currently enjoying greater popularity, thanks largely to the considerable interest shown in the area by experienced growers from other regions. The Ribera del Duero

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1152-583: The river mouth, the only population centres of any note are Foz do Tua, Pinhão and Peso da Régua . Tributaries here are small, merging into the Douro along the canyons; the most important are Côa , Tua , Sabor , Corgo , Tavora , Paiva , Tâmega , and Sousa . None of these small, fast-flowing rivers is navigable. Major Spanish riverside towns include Soria , Almazán , Aranda de Duero , Tordesillas , Zamora and major Portuguese towns include Miranda do Douro , Foz Côa , Peso da Régua , Lamego , Vila Nova de Gaia , and Porto . The most populous cities along

1188-480: The river, allowing river traffic into the upper regions in Spain and along the border. In 1998, Portugal and Spain signed the Albufeira Convention, an agreement on the sharing of trans-boundary rivers to include the Douro, Tagus and Guadiana . The convention superseded an agreement on the Douro, signed in 1927, that was expanded in 1964 and 1968 to include tributaries. It is the third-longest river in

1224-508: The same used in Rioja. Wines labelled as "Crianza" must age two years with 12 months in oak. "Reserva" wines must be aged at least three years with at least 12 months in oak. The "Gran Reserva" labelled wines must spend 5 years aging prior to release, two being in oak. The town of Pesquera is particularly noted for its wines and the area around La Horra (another small town in the region) is respected by locals for its consistent quality. Viña Sastre

1260-467: The square were destroyed in a fire, and the houses were rebuilt with arcades in their groundfloors. During this rebuilding campaign the square also gained a pavement made of stone slabs. In the mid-18th century the city needed new urban improvements to provide for the swift flow of goods and people between the Ribeira neighbourhood and other areas of Porto. In this context, governor João de Almada e Melo opened

1296-482: The time, somewhat controversial, as the considered benchmark Vega Sicilia wines traditionally blended Tinto Fino with such Bordeaux varietals as Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The DOP's authorized red grapes are: Tinto Fino , Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Malbec , and Garnacha Tinta . The Albillo grape is the only authorized white variety grown, for white wines that are mostly destined for local consumption. There are more than 300 wineries that belong to

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