The Lello bookshop or " Livraria Lello & Irmão" in Porto is considered one of the most beautiful in the world!
The Lonely Planet named it the 3rd best bookshop in the world and it appears in a similar ranking of Guardian an English daily. If you come visit Porto in Portugal, here's a place you can't miss: Livraria Lello is one of the most beautiful bookshops in the world.
Flickr – Mi Mitrika
Even if you are not interested in the books, go to see this magnificent neo-Gothic style bookshop inaugurated in 1906 in which are stacked up to the ceiling of ancient, occasional or new books, including guides of foreign languages and literature, in different languages. At the top of the curved staircase is a pleasant coffee.
Flickr – David Martín Clavo
To stay in this "cozy" atmosphere and be surrounded by beautiful walls and a beautiful architecture, I suggest you go to drink a coffee (or a beer) in the historical Cafe Majestic , which is a 10-minute walk to 112 Rua Santa Catarina.
Café Majestic – Wikimedia – António Amen
For the anecdote, the Lello bookshop, according to legend, inspired the author of Harry Potter, J. K. Rowling. The only certainty is that the writer lived well in the city. Regarding his bestseller, we don’t really know if he has a connection with this library. The mystery remains whole.
Where is the Livraria Lello & Irmão in Porto?
It is located in the center of Porto at n°144 of the Rua das Carmelitas, not far from the station Estação de S. Bento . The bookstore is located close to the Torre dos Clérigos another Porto monument to visit.
Livraria Lello & Irmão in Porto: hourly rates
Rates The entrance is €5 now. Only children up to 3 years old enjoy free admission. The price of the right of entry gives you the right to a good deductible when buying a book.
On the bankruptcy a few years ago, this paid entry model is a success since it allowed the Lello library to reach 1 million visitors in 2018, to move from 9 employees in 2015 to 60 in early 2019, and to sell an average of 1200 pounds a day.
Opening hours of the bookshop Lello e Irmão Faced with the popularity of the place, hordes of tourists come to visit the bookstore and it is sometimes difficult to penetrate inside as the queue is long. According to the official website of the bookshop, here are the times to which you can visit the Livraria Lello & Irmão:
Monday 9h30 - 7h00 Tuesday 9h30 - 19h00 Wednesday 9.30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Thursday, 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday 9:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. Saturday 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday 9h30 - 19h00
Did you go back to this very special bookstore in Porto?
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