The Prime Minister arrived with his wife shortly after 9 p.m. at the event organized by the Porto City Hall, following his visit to Fontainhas, and after the President of the Assembly of the Republic, José Pedro Aguiar-Branco, had also arrived for dinner as an invited guest.
The dinner, which concludes with a fireworks display at midnight—this year presented across the Luís I and Arrábida bridges—also welcomed the independent candidate for Porto City Hall, Filipe Araújo, as well as the PS’s lead candidate, Manuel Pizarro, and the former mayor and candidate, Nuno Cardoso.
Just after the Prime Minister’s silent arrival, a strong but brief shower of rain fell from Porto’s sky.
Located in the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal, the Casa do Roseiral offers a privileged view over the Douro River and the quays of Vila Nova de Gaia.
By around 7 p.m., both banks of the Douro River were already populated with thousands of residents and tourists looking to secure their spots for the announced 16 minutes of fireworks that annually highlight Porto’s celebrations.
