Through to the end of the 19th century, the Douro was the major means of accessing inland parts of the region and the way of transport products and people from lands rendered effectively distant.

Difficult to navigate, impeded by natural barriers, only a unique and ancient vessel, the rabelo boat, could manage, due to both its robustness and the courage of the men who crewed it, to overcome the adverse conditions encountered over its long course.

Currently, after the building of various dams, the river is navigable, smoothly and calmly, for 210 km, between Oporto and Barca d´Alva.