Lello Bookstore in Porto

Since the British writer J. K. Rowling wrote a series of world-famous novels about the young wizard Harry Potter, all the excited children around the world have started repeatedly reread books and rewatch films about his adventures. It's hard to imagine a person who has never heard of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. However, few people know that the story of the fabulous bookstore Flourish and Blotts in Diagon Alley originates in the distant Portuguese city of Porto, in the Lello Bookstore, relished by J. K. Rowling. Of course, there are no textbooks with embossed gold covers for young wizards like the Monster Book of Monsters, no spells, no magic wands. However, the ancient bookstore full of secrets and mysteries is no worse than the magical Hogwarts library. It attracts Harry Potter fans from all over the world, who have turned the store into a popular center of pilgrimage.

It all began when two brothers, intellectuals, and book lovers, Jose and Antonio Lello opened a simple bookstore. In 1894, the brothers bought the old Chardron bookshop and conceived a grand project to expand the store and build a unique building. The talented engineer and architect Francisco Xavier Esteves came to help them. Together they created a beautiful Gothic structure with openwork vaults and numerous spiral staircases. By the way, the light in the store is also "magical", thanks to the huge stained glass ceiling, made by the German architect Gerardus Samuel van Krieken. It is decorated with the Latin inscription "Decus in labore", which means "Honor in work". The grand opening of the unique Lello Bookstore took place in 1906. Almost a hundred years later, the future famous writer created the first chapters of this literary masterpiece sitting in a cozy coffee shop of the store.