Amsterdam to Rome Cruise Post #7 - 'Oporto, Portugal: The City of Port Wine and Bookstore of Harry Potter Inspiration'

Historic Centre of Oporto from the Douro River – Oporto, Portugal

Oporto, also known as ‘Porto’, is the second largest city in Portugal (next to its sister city, Lisbon). Once an important outpost of the Roman Empire, Oporto is now one of the oldest cities in Europe, dating back to 275 BC. The Douro River, which was a Roman trading center, is now hallmarked by an extraordinary double-decker bridge, the work of the famous Parisian engineer, Gustav Eiffel (of the Eiffel Tower, Paris).

Dom Luís I Bridge over the Douro River – Oporto, Portugal

Porto is registered as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. One of the reasons for its fame is its unique, classical gilt-work architecture, reflecting the baroque-style and romanticism of the 19^th and 20^th century. I remember thinking the lacey balconies gracing many of the buildings, somehow reminded me of New Orleans.

Ribeira Square – Oporto, Portugal

Porto’s most internationally famous export is port wine, which is named for the city. The Portuguese take their wine so seriously, that the guidelines dictated by the ‘European Union of Protected Designation of Origin’ state that only port from Portugal may be labeled as Port Wine. I’ve personally never been a fan of port because of its overwhelming sweetness, but after visiting the Sandeman Winery and tasting a glass, I could possibly do a commercial! The port was memorable… smokey and sweet, delicate and bitter – all at the same time.

French oak barrel ageing the Port wine, Sandeman Winery – Oporto, Portugal

Following our tour guide, we passed the famous Lello Bookshop – one of the oldest bookstores in Portugal (1869). It has been described as the “third best bookstore in the world.” More than just a bookshop, Lello’s building is an artistic destination in its own right. The impressive interior is breathtakingly beautiful, with a spiral art nouveau staircase forming the main artery of the building. There is a magnificent wood-paneled ceiling and the bookcases are carved to perfection. Harry Potter fans will be interested to know that JK Rowling is believed to have drawn part of her inspiration for the series, from spending time here. I was told that the renowned author worked as a language teacher for several years in Porto and lived very close to the store. Alas, photos and filming are strictly forbidden and the sales staff are very vigilant. So, with the door bolted against tourists, I ignored the stony-looking faces of the salespeople and stared nose-against-window, trying to soak in as many impressions as I could.

The world famous Lello Bookshop – Oporto, Portugal

We next visited the Oporto Cathedral, which sits atop a winding, uphill stone path. This wondrous cathedral was among the most impressive landmarks I saw here. In the early 12^th century, construction on the cathedral was started along with the first city walls and finished more than 100 years later.

Oporto Cathedral – Oporto, Portugal

Over the past week, having trudged up cobblestone streets and endless steep stairs, I realized something about my fellow travelers… Several of them were handicapped, and it was remarkable to see their grit, stamina and determination to see the world. It was very moving to see them putting their arms around life… a great lesson.