Porto — Wine, Food and Culture along the Duoro

A dream along western Europe, Porto is the cherry on top for your Portuguese vacation. Dotted with sunny beaches, Porto is a hub of cultural heritage. Grab some port wine, or take a cruise along the Duoro — nothing here will disappoint. Wind your way through cobbled streets lined with medieval houses, there is a bar or café wherever you go. Take to the ancient Baxia with its baroque churches for a day to experience tradition in all its glory.

Experience the essence of Porto in the below ways:

• Take a cruise along the Duoro River
• Sample a glass or two of local port wine
• Wander & explore the Baxia District on Foot
• Walk across Dom Luis I Bridge to the Vila Nova de Gaia district
• Explore the riverside of Cais da Riberia
• Take a food tour of Porto’s varied cuisine — a local guide is always better!
• Take a day to appreciate the Atlantic beaches
• Spend a day at A Rua das Flores do Porto — wine shops, restaurants & attractions: an all-in-one experience!

Porto is another ‘city that never sleeps’ and whether it is day or night, there is always some or the other way to enjoy the city. Sightseeing during the day and cooling off at one of the many bars, cafes and restaurants of the city at night — if you liked tapas in Spain, get ready for pesticos in Portugal. While you experience Porto in a cluster of ways, choose to stay at the Torel 1884 Apartments for a splendid experience — the more local, the better!

Just 400m from the super Ferreira Borges Market, Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments are set on the riverfront area of Ribeira. Set in a 135-year-old mansion, the hotel celebrates Portugal’s rich history and culture with curios and artefacts from all over the world. Complemented with high ceilings, ornate mouldings and brilliantly tiled floors, the hotel has restored most of its building components to retain the original beauty of the structure.

Each suite is named after materials, substances and items that adventurers brought to Portugal during the African, American and Asian trade voyages to/from Portuguese lands back in 1800s. For example, on the first floor, you will find rooms called “Exotic Wood”, “Exotic Bird”, “Coffee”, “Sugarcane” & “Tobacco” — we weren’t joking about the materials! These rooms are made with simple material look wood and cane with subtle colours — shades of blue, green, brown and black.

Take up lodging in one of the eclectic and luxurious hotel rooms or in the self-catering apartments adjacent to the main building. On a leisurely day, step into their wine bistro for a mix of good food and enjoyable company!

PS — The apartments share the eclectic names too — spices found in regular daily use — “Ginger”, “Saffron”, “Paprika”, “Coriander”, “Mustard”, “Basil”, “Clove”, “Turmeric”, “Cardamom”, “Pepper” and “Cinnamon”.

Like the saying goes — “Any Portuguese town looks like a bride’s finery — something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. Lose yourself in this town for a couple of days — only to finally find yourself!

Written by Anisha Masand