Centros históricos do Porto e de Vila Nova de Gaia : continuidade ou demarcação

Abstract

This paper focuses on the socioeconomic characterisation of the resident population of the Historic Centres of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia, based on information derived from the Population Censuses conducted by the Portuguese National Statistics Institute (INE – Instituto Nacional de Estatística) in 1991 and 2001. We were led to conclude from the analysis performed that these Centres, although independent in administrative terms, comprise a vast, contiguous area – albeit divided by a river – given their identical social, demographic, qualificational, economic profile and development.