Porto is also famous for internationally popular Port wine. The history of Porto dates back to around 300 BC, with Celtic ruins being discovered in several areas.
Travelling in Portugal is simple and smooth, especially on the road. Vijaya Pratap travelled from Lisbon towards north (visiting the beautiful Centro on the way) and reached the second largest Portugal city, Porto, one of the oldest European centres, with its historical core being a UNESCO World Heritage Site
My hotel had rather a very interesting theme, that of theatre. “Hotel Teatro” arose from the spot where the Baquet Theatre was inaugurated in 1859. A hundred and fifty-one years later, the unique, refined and bohemian environment of the theatre has been revived in the hotel. The reception represents a box office, where each guest receives a ticket to access their room. The restaurant and bar have become the new palco (stage) and plateia (stalls), offering creations for a discerning palate. The inner courtyard is a versatile garden, a quiet and secluded heaven from the tumult of the city. The 74 comfortable rooms and suites are coloured in gold and bronze, though I felt a little gloomy with dark brown curtains and decor.
Close to the hotel, I walked up to the Sao Bento Train Station that boasts large, magnificent tile panels in the vestibule. The name of the station comes from a Benedictine monastery that existed on the same spot in the 16th century. The tiles number 20,000, dating from 1905, the work of Jorhe Colaco, the most important “azulejo” painter of the time. The panels depict landscapes, ethnographic scenes as well as historical events. I spent a good time studying the artistic tile panels.
A visit to Gran Cruz followed, which is a place for information, exhibition and leisure that offers new experiences around the port wine, combining it with artistic creations in fields as diverse as fashion, art and gastronomy; a project to celebrate the culture of port wine by associating modernity to tradition.
I wanted to explore the Port Wines Cellars at Graham´s. Built in 1890, the Graham’s Lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia on the Douro Estuary near the Atlantic Ocean, is where the maritime climate is ideally suited to the balanced ageing of Graham’s Ports. The sturdy granite walls of the lodge currently house over 3,500 casks of Port as well as a unique Vintage Port cellar. A couple of hours flew by, just trying to understand the various technicalities that go into making the port wine.
I spent the evening touring downtown, strolling around the old and narrow streets, passing the most interesting landmarks of the city including the Clérigos Tower, the exquisite Book Shop ‘Lello’ -considered UNESCO World Patrimony and one of the third most beautiful bookshops in the World, the old grocery shops, boutiques, the colourful squares; the new quarters of Cândido dos Reis and Galeria de Paris, where one can find the best of night life in Porto downtown with its trendy and design cafés, book shops and shops.
My dinner was at DOP Restaurant where creativity and innovation take precedence, catering to the most discerning diners. It is called DOP (‘tasting and daring in Oporto’) and has a signature cuisine based on the traditional Portuguese flavours that the chef Rui Paula recreates with some international character. Just one day in Porto left me with rich experiences.
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2015/Nov/28/porto–a-preview-849365.html
Vijaya Pratap is a freelance journalist and a documentary filmmaker, based in Hyderabad. She specialises in the study of art, culture, history and wildlife.
Meet the Author – Vijayapratap
