Porto offers itself a new tourist heart. Until August 2020, we mainly crossed the Luis I bridge, which connects the capital of northern Portugal to Vila Nova de Gaia, for a stroll along the Douro and visit the cellars of the great port houses. But almost three years ago, Adrian Bridge, English tycoon at the head of the Taylor's and Croft houses, decided to change the situation. Gaia would welcome the WOW Porto, a new district dedicated to Porto's culture and leisure activities. 106 M € investment, a space of 35,000 m², 9 restaurants, 6 museums, a wine school… Ambitious, disproportionate, surreal? Perhaps a little of the three, united behind the word "
bold
", which punctuates the speech of Adrian Bridge and which he embodies without blinking.
Read also: 48 hours in Porto, epicurean stroll in the wine capital
A talkative character, an investment banker "in a past life", Adrian Bridge has lost none of his business acumen.
His idea ?
“
To make Gaia a leisure destination that goes beyond port wine,
because
,
he says,
studies on the subject have proven it: tourists only visit 2 or 3 Port wineries during their stay
”.
It was therefore necessary to go further, extend the stay and extend the subject to wine, which Portugal produces from north to south.
The project for an ambitious wine museum (The Wine Experience) and its corollary, the Wine School, was born.
Read also: Wine tourism: trip to the Douro Valley, departing from Porto
Bridge adds: “
From there naturally came another observation: 50% of the world's cork is produced in Portugal.
You have to tell the story and the production of cork!
This is how the Liège museum project emerged
”... Then, naturally again, its corollary, the history of Portugal and Porto through the ages and by association of ideas, other themes such as textiles, a major sector in northern Portugal.
The leisure destination having been born, why not add new anchorages to it?
This is how the Histoire du Chocolat, the Bridge collection and the Gallery, which hosts the work of international artists, grew.
WOW Porto, a leisure district at the crossroads of culture and entertainment
It would be better to focus on visiting two museums, or even one museum and one activity (workshop, tasting course) in one day so as not to risk missing out on everything. Press photo
When Adrian Bridge is asked what he recommends for understanding WOW Porto, he replies: “
I don't expect visitors to explore every museum!
".
And so much the better, because faced with the gigantism of the WOW, it will be necessary from the outset to ban the project of seeing everything in one day, or even two.
It would be better to favor the visit of two or even a museum and an activity (workshop, tasting course) in one day so as not to risk missing out on the whole or being saturated with so much information.
Everything has been designed to spend an entire day on the spot, multiplying the experiences, which is reminiscent of the theme park model ... But in a cultural version.
MUSEUMS
The origin of the project was wine, which WOW Porto stands for: World of Wine. Be careful not to be misled: the proposal for this new district today goes far beyond the wine subject. Beyond the dedicated museum, The Wine Experience, we will also explore The Planet of Liège, Porto through the ages, The Bridge Collection, the History of Chocolate, the Fashion and Textile Museum, the Gallery of modern art… So many innovative and fun museography proposals. All the explanations are in English and Portuguese, but their translation into French (audio format) is accessible from smartphones, thanks to a QR Code (audio guides also available at the ticket offices). Finally,each museum opens onto a vast boutique that explores the theme of the museum that precedes it and recalls - if necessary! - that any pretext is good to bring back some memories. It can be accessed without having previously visited the adjoining museum.
The Wine Experience and The Wine School
The School offers a wide range of training courses and is aimed at day visitors, novices or connoisseurs, as well as wine professionals.
Press photo
“The Wine Experience” was imagined as a journey to demystify the world of wine. Successful bet ! You are first made aware of the properties of the various wine-growing soils in general, then those of the Portuguese territory in particular. Throughout the course, the attraction makes its way into knowledge, showing the subject in a more playful light. Note however: if the sounds, installations and videos punctuate the visit, the majority of digital devices are designed for adults, with explanations that are certainly popularized, but which will need to be even more so for a younger audience. The route continues and explores the vine in all its dimensions, from its life cycle throughout the year to the production of wine. Impossible not to smile when thewe pass into the room dedicated to the grape varieties, which presents in an entertaining way their characteristics, aromatic profile and lands of expression. The route ends with a guided introduction to wine tasting (with grape juice for children). To learn more about the subject, head to the Wine School. Imagined long before the beginnings of WOW Porto, it offers a wide range of training courses and is aimed at day visitors, novices or connoisseurs, as well as wine professionals. We fell in love with the 2-hour workshop devoted to learning how to taste wine, which offers an excellent complement to a visit to the museum with very clear explanations and an interesting approach.The route ends with a guided introduction to wine tasting (with grape juice for children). To learn more about the subject, head to the Wine School. Imagined long before the beginnings of WOW Porto, it offers a wide range of training courses and is aimed at day visitors, novices or connoisseurs, as well as wine professionals. We fell in love with the 2-hour workshop devoted to learning how to taste wine, which offers an excellent complement to a visit to the museum with very clear explanations and an interesting approach.The route ends with a guided introduction to wine tasting (with grape juice for children). To learn more about the subject, head to the Wine School. Imagined long before the beginnings of WOW Porto, it offers a wide range of training courses and is aimed at day visitors, novices or connoisseurs, as well as wine professionals. We fell in love with the 2-hour workshop devoted to learning how to taste wine, which offers an excellent complement to a visit to the museum with very clear explanations and an interesting approach.it offers a wide range of training courses and is aimed at day visitors, novices or connoisseurs, as well as wine professionals. We fell in love with the 2-hour workshop devoted to learning how to taste wine, which offers an excellent complement to a visit to the museum with very clear explanations and an interesting approach.it offers a wide range of training courses and is aimed at day visitors, novices or connoisseurs, as well as wine professionals. We fell in love with the 2-hour workshop devoted to learning how to taste wine, which offers an excellent complement to a visit to the museum with very clear explanations and an interesting approach.
The Planet of Liège
The name puts us on the path: by speaking of “Planète du Liège”, the museum partly frees itself from its museum character, replacing it with a more playful dimension. However, the proposed course is very informative and is aimed at both adults and children. It deals with the cultivation of cork, from the production of corks to more contemporary, innovative or sustainable uses. Among them are architecture, design, surfboard making, fashion and, even more unexpectedly, the focus of special effects in the explosion scenes! One of our favorite routes for its balance between playful museography, unusual discoveries and homage to Portuguese heritage, of which cork is a key element. Children love, adults too. Verdict: the planet of Liège deserves exploration.
PRATA (The Porto region through the ages)
From the first traces of human life in the Porto region to the movements of migration, conquest and reconquest, this museum explores the history of Porto and Portugal.
The course becomes more fun and interactive as you advance.
Our recommendation if you are accompanied by children: quickly go through the first, more classic rooms, and hurry up to the second part.
Our preference goes to the room dedicated to the architecture of Porto, putting together historical and more recent constructions, on a soundtrack which brings in the clamor of the city, the song of the birds and the chime of the bells.
The last rooms allow you to grasp what makes the uniqueness and the soul of Porto.
The History of Chocolate
Installed between the walls of an old bottling line of 2900m2, the History of chocolate is a must for those with a sweet tooth. He explores the genesis of chocolate, from the favorite drink of the Aztecs to the recent emergence of the “
bean to bar
” movement.
»(From the bean to the bar).
The course allows you to immerse yourself in a cocoa plantation, video and tropical sounds to support, to understand the production process of the bean.
The second part offers a life-size replica of the Charlie et la Chocolaterie-style chocolate factory, where you can watch the production of Vinte Vinte chocolates, a brand whose name refers to the "Cocoa Belt", which stands for extends within a radius of 20 ° above the Equator to 20 ° below.
The visit can be completed with a chocolate tasting workshop: again, very well done, rich in information ... And deliciousness.
The Porto Textile and Fashion Museum, The Bridge Collection and the WOW Gallery
The “Bridge Collection” is aimed at tableware lovers. Closer to the Classic Museum, Adrian Bridge's personal collection consists of nearly 1,000 wine glasses and stemmed glasses. These pieces, some of which are 9000 years old, allow us to explore the habits and customs of wine consumption through the ages. Finally, the WOW Gallery hosts temporary exhibitions by artists of international stature, with the desire to place Porto on the world stage of modern and contemporary art. At this time and until September 26, the Gallery is hosting part of the work of the painter Francis Bacon (1909-1992). Finally, the Porto Textile and Fashion Museum is the latest WOW Porto. At the time of our visit, it had not yet opened.Today, we explore the history of the rise of the textile industry in the Porto region, with the spotlight on shoe making and the Portuguese art of filigree. The other part of the museum highlights the developments in sustainable fashion and its contemporary players.
RESTAURANTS, CAFÉS AND BAR
As for tables, each restaurant is based on a concept, which extends from the cuisine to the atmosphere.
Press photo
As a leisure destination, the plethora of museums and shops are complemented by… 9 restaurants.
First stop next to the main ticket office, a strategic location to recharge your batteries before the visits.
Coffee "Suspiro" (
Sigh
, in French) celebrates the Portuguese pastry,
pastel de nata
in the equally delicious "
pão de ló
".
As for tables, each restaurant is based on a concept, which extends from the cuisine to the atmosphere. The Lemon Plaza is ideal for a
quick
lunch, in a setting that
exactly
replicates a typical Porto square, from the
calçada
under your feet to the colorful facades. The whole thing is perhaps a little too reminiscent of the amusement park, but it is pleasant, especially on rainy days. We will favor The Golden Catch (fish restaurant) and Root & Vine (vegetarian table with colorful dishes), neighboring tables whose terraces open onto the pleasant central esplanade, discovering Gaia and Porto. In the evening, two videomapping shows are projected on the facades of the WOW: we can attend them before, after or during dinner. Then again, entertainment is never far away...
For a cuisine more representative of the north, head to T&C. We taste the "
francesinhac
»From Porto and other well-made, typical and invigorating specialties. Change of course at Mira Mira, attached to the Textile and Fashion Museum, where the time has come for a cuisine that is lighter and more open to the world. Good point: the common thread of all WOW tables is wine. Each wine list echoes the Wine Experience, and the type of wine presented there. Dry and aromatic, delicate and complex, medium-bodied, full-bodied etc ... It is always a question of wine at the bar perched above the restaurants and called “La part de l'Ange” as a reference, as we will have learned during our visit to “The Wine Experience”, with alcohol that evaporates during aging in barrels. With such a diversity of restaurants, WOW seeks to fit into the landscape of bars, cafes and restaurants for visitors toone day, but also for the inhabitants of Gaia, Porto and the surrounding areas.
Practical notebook
GO
WOW Porto
, Rua do Choupelo, 39, 4400-088 Vila Nova de Gaia.
Phone.
: +351 220 121 200. info@wow.pt, wow.pt.
On foot:
cross the D. Luis I Bridge and take the entrance located at Rua do Choupelo.
Metro:
Jardim do Morro or General Torre station
Train:
exit at General Torre station
Douro River Taxi:
small boat ensuring the crossing from Cais da Ribeira to Cais de Gaia.
Enter WOW Porto via the entrance to Rua do Choupelo
Bus:
900, 901, 906 “Yeatman Hôtel” stop.
Car:
GPS.
41. 135151, -8.614283.
The car park has 150 spaces.
As WOW Porto occupies a real neighborhood, it can be difficult to find your way around, especially since it has three different entrances.
If signage is sometimes missing, the WOW teams are well deployed throughout the site and willingly help lost visitors.
Remember to bring the WOW Porto leaflet, available in French at the entrance counters: the card it contains allows you to get your bearings.
PRICES
Passes are valid for 6 months, so it's possible to return to WOW long after your first visit.
If you only have one day, we recommend opting for the 2 experiences pass.
Good to know: access is free for children under 4 years old.
2 experiences:
Adult: 23 €, Child -13 years old: 11 €, Pack 2 adults + 2 children: 54 €.
3 experiences:
Adult: € 30, Child under 13: € 14, Pack 2 adults + 2 children: € 70.
5 experiences:
Adult: 49 €, Child - 13 years old: 24 €, Pack 2 adults + 2 children: 115 €.