Lost in Porto, Portugal: 5 magical connections between Harry Potter and Porto

I’d like to start off by admitting that I have not yet read the Harry Potter books and after visiting Porto, I feel more inclined to do so.

I know, I know. I almost feel ashamed of admitting this. I can feel some heavy eye-rolls.

*Insert palm-to-face emoji here*

With that said, I am a huge fan of the movies and have been lost in the Harry Potter universe too many times to count. Although I know movies can never do the books justice, I have a pretty good sense of what that entire world looks like. Along with millions of people around the world, I too, enjoy some good magic, wizardry and witchcraft. While I knew that the books have influence from London and Edinburg, I never new Porto had its own influence until I started researching my trip.

Before J.K. Rowling brought the world of Harry Potter to life, she lived in Porto teaching English for several years. While J.K. Rowling has expressed her love of Porto, it was a very dark time in her life and a time she rarely speaks about. Her mother had recently passed away and her house was robbed before her move to Porto. She moved to the city to teach English as a second language and to make some money doing so. During her time in Porto, she married a Portuguese native (whom she met while teaching) and shortly after, gave birth to a girl. It wasn’t long before her relationship ended further adding to a tumultuous few years.

While J.K. Rowling has mentioned that she started writing the first book in her native England, she continued developing the story and drew inspiration from her surroundings in Porto. There is no question that some of the places I visited and experienced during my recent trip to Porto have striking similarities to the Harry Potter universe.

There is certainly debate on whether some of these connections are 100% factual, but there is no denying that there are some strong correlations, some of which have been confirmed by J.K. Rowling herself. Keep reading and decide for yourself.

Livraria Lello

Livraria Lello is arguably one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world (Lonely Planet ranks it 3rd in the world). Many say that J.K.Rowling was inspired by the bookstore’s old, ornate staircase and magnificent detailing throughout. Many also say that it resembles the book shop, Flourish and Blotts. J.K. Rowling frequented the bookstore when she lived in Porto.

“They bought Harry's school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all”. —J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

I reached out to the bookstore months before my trip to Porto (on behalf of my blog) and they were kind enough to welcome me to the store prior to opening, to let me document my experience. For 30 minutes, I had the store to myself to explore and take in all of its beauty. As of 9:00 AM on a rainy October day, there was already a lineup forming outside with eager visitors waiting to come inside. To my surprise (because I wasn’t expecting it), my contact at the store also gave me an amazing private tour with lots of interesting facts. They have a room dedicated to Harry Potter where you will find all of the books available for purchase and decorative candles hanging from the ceiling. They also have the entire first editions collection of the books displayed, some of which are signed. When I asked them about J.K. Rowling’s connection, they did confirm that she frequented the shop when she lived in Porto.

Travel tip: This bookstore is normally flooded with people and lineups so I suggest you pre-purchase a ticket online and arrive early in the morning, after lunch or later before closing. Off-season is even better. Tickets are 5 Euros each and will be applied towards your purchase of a book.

Fun facts I learned during my private tour:

All of the wood detailing you see is actually painted plaster that resembles wood
Over a million people visit the bookstore every year and around 3-5 thousand people a day, depending on the time of year
The book store has a private room called the ‘Gemma Room’ where they keep their oldest book collections. Tip: If you ask to view the room they will unlock it for you.
The oldest book they carry in the Gemma Room is a law book that dates back to 1476 which discusses the various punishments for breaking certain laws. The book is an ‘incunable’, which is the word used when referring to books that were printed between 1450 and 1500.
The iconic staircase used to be a brown colour but in the mid-1990s a painter was contracted to repaint the staircase. Without approval from the bookstore owner, he painted the staircase red overnight. The owner ended up loving it and kept it this colour
An unidentified American millionaire offered to buy the stairs alone but the owners denied his request

Academic uniforms warn by University of Coimbra students

When I first spotted two students rushing out of a busy subway station in Porto, I thought: “They look like Harry Potter characters!”. I didn’t think much of it. After seeing a few more students with the same black capes, crisp white dress shirts and sleek black ties, I figured this was actually a school uniform of some sort.

“Hey Google: What is this sorcery I am seeing around me?”

Answer: University students in Porto wear traditional ‘Capa e Batina’ uniforms.

After a little more research, I learned that these uniforms did in fact inspire the uniforms warn by Harry and his classmates at Hogwarts. The uniforms are an old tradition that dates back to the 18th century and there’s no denying the resemblance. J.K. Rowling would have often seen these students walking around the city as I did during my visit.

As you can see, the first two photos of university students in Porto are strikingly similar to the capes warn in Harry Potter

Escovaria de Belomonte

‘Escovaria de Belomonte’ or the ‘Belomonte Broom Store’ is straight out of Diagon Alley and next to Livraria Lello, this really felt like Harry Potter to me. A few blocks away from Livraria Lello, you enter a winding street covered in cobblestones that are common throughout Porto. Here, you will find this old broom store that has been around for decades. It’s the real deal. A small, ‘mom and pop’ type shop that prides itself with making the finest of brooms fit for any wizard (or home). It’s resemblance to a shop like Broomstix and Quality Quidditch Supplies on Diagon Alley is pretty bang on!

“Several boys about Harry's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Harry heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand- fastest ever-" J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Majestic Café

Majestic Café is said to have been a popular hangout spot of J.K. Rowling and some say she was often seen jotting ideas down on napkins. The café is beautiful and ornate. I’ll be honest, it’s definitely beautiful and worth peaking in, but I wouldn’t bother getting more than a coffee. Due to its popularity because of its relation to J.K. Rowling, the prices are quite steep and not worth the money. With that said, it is a very beautiful café and if you’re ok to fork over 6 Euros for a coffee, then do it!

António de Oliveira Salazar

António de Oliveira Salazar was a dictator that served as prime minister of Portugal from 1932 to 1968. [Source] J.K. Rowling has confirmed that Salazar Slytherin (founder of Slytherin House and one of the four founders of Hogwarts) derives from the Portuguese dictator’s name. Unlike some of his counterparts like Adolph Hitler, António de Oliveira Salazar was not as outspoken but kept his rule over Porto for over 40 years.

Porto is a very special city and I definitely fell in love with it. Everything about it was magical. I certainly enjoyed connecting the dots between this beautiful city and its connection to the Harry Potter universe. What’s your favourite connection from above? Comment below!

A very special shout out and a HUGE thank you to Livraria Lello for allowing me into their beautiful store and providing me with a once and a lifetime experience. I was very honest with how small my blog audience is at the moment (as I am only just starting out). Despite this, they welcomed me with open arms. As a thank you, I made a donation on their behalf to ‘Room to Read’.