Potteresque Porto shop's simply wizard

STAND AND STAIR At Livraria Lello

- BY JULIE DELAHAYE

My biggest passions are travel and books, so if there's a chance to combine the two, I'm there.

While planning a trip to Porto, Portugal, I read it was home to the "world's most beautiful bookshop". And so it proved.

Livraria Lello is said to have inspired Harry Potter scenes with its stained glass ceilings and red spiral staircase. It costs €10 to get in, but if you buy any books, it's knocked off the price.

The busy shop operates a “one in, one out” system and queues are so long it's wise to book a time slot in advance, but well worth it.