One of the oldest bookstores in the country and one of the most coveted bookstores in the world, Lello is an important landmark of the city of Porto and a must-see for tourists visiting the city. Opened in 1906, the building boasts a neo-Gothic façade, standing out from the surrounding urban landscape. Inside, bookcases and ceilings are copiously worked out, with special mention being made of the extraordinary staircase leading to the first floor and the large stained glass window that bears the monogram with the Decus in labore Bookstore border. In 2016, the façade and the stained glass were carefully restored and restored to their original look and brightness.

It already has 16 years in the market and is the only bookstore in the country specializing in poetry and theater. Valter Hugo Mãe called it a “gourmet bookstore” and, in fact, Poetry is a way of being that bets on its own editions as well as on the poetic arts of several Portuguese authors, English literature, Brazilian poetry and small publishers, representing also some of the most important Portuguese and foreign publishers. “Poetry heals, theater is life,” is the epigraph of this independent bookstore, where love for a cause is a source of perseverance. More than a bookstore, Poetria aims to be a “meeting point, for the exchange of information between people and books and for the dissemination of poetry and theater.”

The owner of Alfarrabista José Lopes Gomes Soares has over 40 years of experience in the used, antique and rare books market.
Our space presents itself as both a bookstore and a library, making it the ideal place to get lost in old and new titles of all kinds.
Visitors of our bookstore also find a pleasant outdoor patio which allows the guest to enjoy a moment of reading in a downtown Porto oasis.
Alternatively, if you would like to purchase a copy of this property’s catalog from the comfort of your own home, you may do so through the website provided for this purpose.