Pairing Lisbon with Porto on a culture and wine-filled break

On a walking tour of Porto, I learn that the city was frequented by British traders from as early as the 17th century, searching for port aged below the city’s streets.

They had originally stumbled upon the dessert wine, which can only be made using grapes grown in the Douro Valley region, after Britain had boycotted French wines as part of escalating tensions across the Channel.

Until the 19th century, England was one of the most important export markets for the tipple, and English merchants founded many of Porto’s port houses at that time.

This includes Taylor’s Port Cellars, just across the road from The Yeatman Hotel, where thousands of barrels are stacked in the cool, dark caverns for years.

The aging gives the fortified liquor an intense flavour – especially Tawny Port, which has typically been aged for at least six years.

Clients looking to immerse themselves in Portuguese culture and cuisine can also enjoy a meal at Casa da Mariquinhas, a hub of live fado music.

The music genre is characterised by melancholy, heartfelt lyrics to stringed instruments and evolved from street music in the 1830s, when poor singers would lament the harsh realities of life to passers-by.

While walking around the streets of the city, clients can also appreciate the beautiful buildings decorated with ceramic azulejo tiles.

Clients arriving by train can admire these almost instantly in the main hall of Porto’s Sao Bento railway station, where the city’s history is emblazoned across its wall in more than 20,000 blue-and-white tiles.

I have the chance to learn historic tile- painting techniques with the Catalogue of the Tiles of Porto. This not-for-profit project aims to create the only comprehensive archive of every azulejo tile pattern in Porto – before
they are lost to modern design and thieves, who chisel them off the walls and sell them on the black market.

On a Food and Cultural Walk around Lisbon with Taste of Lisboa, our guide Madelena tells us the hardy azulejo tiles found in the capital city protected many of its buildings in the devastating earthquake, tsunami and fire of 1755.

She uses gastronomy to bring the city’s history to life, including a sample of “liquid gold” olive oil, as well as marmalade, cheese, canned fish and custard tarts.

We even get to try ginjinha, a Portuguese liqueur made by infusing sour cherries in alcohol. The experience is topped off by a comprehensive wine-tasting and culinary experience at Lisbon Winery in the heart of the city.
For clients who want to take their Portuguese gastronomy to the next level, Cooking Lisbon offers hands-on cookery classes for patrons to learn the recipes of a full three-course meal.

Sessions can include a visit to the local market to pick up ingredients for quintessential Portuguese dishes.
Iberian Escapes’ Vigor hopes that 2021 will bring UK tourists back, with 2020 being a tough year due to Portugal fluctuating between the Foreign Office (FCDO) and travel corridor lists.

“During lockdown business was non- existent – we had no bookings at all, just cancellations,” he says.

When the country made it onto the air corridor list, business improved so that around 20% of visitors with Iberian Escapes were from the UK, but with the country currently off the list again, hopes are now pinned on a 2021 revival.

“From its cities to its beach resorts, Portugal is loved by Brits and we’re hopeful that 2021 will bring a relaxation of travel rules to bring them back and help the market recover,” says Vigor.

Book it: Iberian Escapes offers six nights in Porto from £2,160pp based on two sharing, including five-star B&B accommodation, two port wine-tastings, one light tapas tasting, all activities, private guides, transfers and transportation. The operator can also mix in elements of its Lisbon itinerary to meet clients’ requirements. Excludes flights, valid for travel in 2021. iberian-escapes.com