Porto: one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

A UNESCO-recognised "city of world heritage" and recent European Capital of Culture 2001, Porto is the perfect setting for a language course. It is full of historical monuments and places of interest ranging from the 12th century cathedral to the ultra modern museum of contemporary art - the most visited museum in Portugal. Yet its true glory lies in the incidental details: the old fashioned street cafés, the markets, the bookshops and restaurants tucked away down side streets, the simple pleasures of a tram journey along the river front or of whiling away the afternoon at a beachside café. Porto is a marvellous city to explore.

Of course, Porto is also home to the world famous Port wine trade. Sandeman, Calem, Cockburns, Delaforce, Taylors and the others all offer fascinating tours of their cellars. You'll be shown how Port is made and given the opportunity to sample some of the different types. A unique experience.

Porto offers excellent shopping facilities, restaurants, golf courses and a fabulous nightlife catering for all tastes. It is a wealthy industrial city and home to many multinational companies with an award winning modern airport offering daily flights to a host of international destinations. The Portuense themselves are fiercely proud of their reputation for hard work but it is their hospitality and good nature that unfailingly strikes the visitor