Around 136 BC, the Roman general Decimus Junius Brutus Callaicus launched a major military campaign in the Iberian Peninsula and conquered the region at the mouth of the Douro River. There, he founded a fortified Roman settlement called Porto Cale, which became an important strategic and commercial center. Over the centuries, this name evolved into Cale, then Portucale, and finally Portugal, making Porto one of the historical cradles of the country.

In the 5th century, in 456, the city was conquered by the Visigothic king Theodoric II, after a period of decline of the Roman Empire. Under Visigothic rule, Porto Cale maintained its regional importance and remained an administrative and military center.

The Visigoths ruled the city until 716, when Umayyad forces, coming from the south of the peninsula, took the region, marking the beginning of the Muslim presence in what would become Portugal.

In the year of grace 2026 of our era, Porto will once again be invaded by runners of all nationalities who will face the half marathon on September 13th, and some will even return later to face the marathon on November 8th.

Welcome to Porto