I’m really into “second cities” these days. For generations, Industrial Age powerhouses in Europe turned into what we would call “the rust belt,” while their elegant “first city” counterparts enjoyed the luster of the Information Age. But over the last decade or so, the rust has become a trendy accessory, and industrial ruins have turned bohemian chic.
A prime example is Porto—the hub of Portugal’s north and the country’s second city. Just three hours from Lisbon by train, it’s fiercely proud of what distinguishes it from the Portuguese capital as it ages happily along the Douro River—alongside most of the world’s port wine.
