This Italian region now has Europe’s highest Tibetan bridge
It’s not for the faint-hearted
The new port would be located past the first bridge in the mouth of the Douro River, Source: Depositphotos
While some cities are looking to turn away from that type of tourism, others seem to be priming themselves for it
These days if you want to visit Portugal’s second-largest city, Porto, by cruise ship and admire its classical architecture and bridges - it’s possible. However, you have to disembark at the Port of Leixões on the Atlantic coast and then reach Porto by road.
The city stands on the northern shore of the Douro River, but it is also a little bit inland. As it turns out, in about two years, though, cruise ships may be able to go into the river mouth and dock on the southern shore, in the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia (or Gaia for short). That way tourists will have direct access to the riverine metropolis.
The Administration of the Ports of Douro, Leixões and Viana do Castelo (APDL) wants to build the cruise terminal in the Cais do Cavaco zone, and apparently there’s already an agreement with the Municipality of the Gaia.
The project has also passed approval by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) and is now under public consultation until 14 June pending final approval. Still, what would bringing in cruise ships up the river, which is already navigable, entail in terms of the environment? Also, given the context where other European cities are turning their back on large vessels.
As far as downsides go, the environmental impact study claims that most of the negative impacts will only occur during construction. “These impacts are of low to moderate importance. In general, they’re temporary and reversible impacts, associated with the increased heavy vehicle traffic that could generate sound and air pollution,” writes the report, as cited in The Portugal News.
What the study admits is that for one residential building near the future cruise terminal, the views over the river will disappear as far as the residents are concerned. These residents, however, are not just taking it and have reportedly solicited meetings with the authorities to “consider carefully all the environmental, patrimonial and other risks”.
In the case of the project being approved, the infrastructure would offer four docking posts with the capacity for four cruise ships of 80 metres in length.
What are the reasons for that and are there any possible solutions for that problem?
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
It’s not for the faint-hearted
Presenting the next chapter in the Dutch capital’s ‘Stay Away’ campaign aimed at rowdy tourists
The City says this has become a necessity due to the increasing number of incidents involving these vehicles
That way you can notify a canal lock keeper to open the gates so the animals can swim through
The organizers had been considering different Parisian spots, but always with the idea of the flame being visible to the people
Electricity production in that Eastern European country will not release direct CO2 emissions anymore
Possibly making it the only legislature in the world with a religious temple on-site
This initiative is not just about making books more accessible – it has larger ambitions in its sights
We owe the unusual cultural icon to this country in Europe
The country’s capital has been a pioneer in crafting policy and initiatives to improve coexistence between people and pets
Urban dwellers across the EU are having a say in making their surroundings friendlier to people and the environment.
Forests in the EU can help green the European construction industry and bolster a continent-wide push for architectural improvements.
Apply by 10 November and do your part for the transformation of European public spaces
Catch up with some recommendations for the 2024 European Capital of Culture programme from the mayor of Tartu
An interview with the ICLEI regional director for Europe аfter the close of COP28
An interview with a member of the No Hate Speech Network team