Society

This year, the sea Port of Leixões has hit a record number of stopovers, with both terminals processing, altogether, 100 stopovers and almost 96 thousand passengers, as announced today by the Port Authority.

This festive season, Coliseu Porto presents a Christmas concert, featuring one of the most significant pieces of Händel, "The Messiah", starting at 9.30 pm and conducted by the Argentinian maestro Leonardo García Alarcón. Lisbon Metropolitan Orchestra and the Lisboa Cantat Choir will be in charge of delivering a stunning repertoire, the perfect treat for a magical evening at Coliseu Porto.

Porto Business School is revealed as one of the best Business Schools in Europe, according to the Financial Times. For the sixth year running, Porto Business School not only remains at the top of the tables but it is also the only Portuguese school to gain three ranking positions, as stated by the latest European Business Schools Rankings. It is ranked 59th this year.

The municipal programme "Ambiente em Família" hosts the session titled "Comida de verdade" [Real Food], on 16 December, starting at 10 am. This event is held in the context of the above mentioned municipal initiative at the Environment Education Centre, in the Palácio de Cristal Gardens.

The Municipal Programme of Cultural Tours is set off to explore the festivity scenes and the Christmas cribs, typical of this festive season through the town. The tour begins at 2.30 pm at São José das Taipas Church, located at the Campo dos Mártires da Pátria (Cordoaria Garden) and it is guided by the municipal technical staff.

Porto established a Tourist Tax. It was done by resolution of the City Council and it should be applicable from 1 March 2018. This tax is not applicable to reservations made prior to that date.

The entry period for grant applications of €50.000 of the Municipal programme for supporting artistic creation, titled Criatório, starts Friday, 15 December. This is the second edition of Criatório, and the application deadline is from 15 December 2017 to 31 January 2018.

The Municipal Programme "Cultura em Expansão" is drawing to a close; the fourth edition ends in festivity and the result of a year's work will emerge right this weekend, at Porto Municipal Theatre, in Rivoli.

The theatre company "Companhia Caótica" features "Crevescer" at Café-Theatre at Campo Alegre, on 16 December, at 3.30 pm. This performance aims to contemplate the life path of a man, who is not too old but he is not as young anymore, and is dwelling on the continuous process of getting older and ageing. This activity mixes cinema, music and autobiography.

Municipal Library Almeida Garrett is launching the "reading and receiving" initiative during the Christmas season. The key objective of this campaign is to deliver books to those who enjoy reading and are users of the library's loan service.