The Magical Place That Inspired J.K. Rowling
Originally published at Lifestyle-A2z.com
You don’t have to be a Harry Potter fan to appreciate the enchanting, real-life inspirations of J.K. Rowling. Located in the northern city of Porto in Portugal, these places will fascinate and amaze, just as they captured the imagination of the young writer.
Rowling was living in Porto and teaching English as she penned the first few chapters of the famous series. While she was there, she met a Portuguese man whom she married and gave birth to their daughter, but later returned to the U.K. During her time in Porto, the city and its landmarks wove their way into her imagination, finding a way into her first book. So much so, that travelers in Portugal are now regaled with the opportunity of embarking on a Harry Potter walking tour available through tourism sites. The following sneak peek of a few of its tour stops will surely delight.
The Lello Bookstore
The Lello Bookstore in Porto is nothing short of fantastic. The architectural wonder is one of the world’s most beautiful bookstores. If you look closely, you’ll be reminded of Flourish and Blotts, the Diagon Alley bookshop at Hogswarts where students purchased their books and wands. This neo-gothic, art nouveau style palace for books was built in Porto in 1906. These days, however, visitors simply refer to the Lello Bookstore as, “the Harry Potter Bookstore.”
The Cape and Cassock of Coimbra
At the University of Coimbra, one of the world’s oldest universities, founded in 1290, students wear long, black robes as part of a centuries-old traditional dress code. The sight of robed students traversing the cobbled passageways of Porto catches one’s attention, just like it caught the eye of J.K. Rowling as she was writing Harry Potter.
The long black robes at Coimbra are academic suits made up of a cape and cassock. Hundreds of years ago, wearing the “Traje Académico” was a strict dress code, while today it is optional. However, most students adore the tradition and are seen donning the cloaks wandering the ancient cities of Porto and Coimbra.
https://visitecoimbra.pt/en/li...
The Joanina Library
The library at Coimbra University is another gem. The medieval Joanina Library was built in 1513. It is a world-renowned library that houses tens of thousands of bound editions dating from the 16th to the 18th centuries. These marvels rest on fantastically carved, gilded oak shelves. The similarities between Rowlings’ Hogwarts Library and this Portuguese marvel are found in the vaulted ceilings and in the beautiful arches. And of course, in the stacks of books, where she memorably created the perfect place for cracking secret magic codes.
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