In association with: Visit Portugal
For a traditional souvenir, look no further than Portugal’s boutiques
We’ve all spent far too much time on holiday seeking out that perfect souvenir. But if you’ve got clients who want something to remember their travels by, then Portugal has them covered. Whether it’s a handmade gift or a bottle of wine, there’s a wealth of choice among the country’s historic shops and design brands.
Artisanal goods
The preservation of Lisbon’s boutiques is channelled through the city’s ‘Stores with History’ project, which safeguards shops that are the last of their kind in the capital.
The elegant Chiado neighbourhood is lined with these art nouveau boutiques, which pride themselves on being among the last purveyors of Portuguese items like expertly crafted gloves and traditional jewellery.
For visitors who want to take a piece of Portuguese history home, recommend workshops in Porto’s House of Filigree museum, which celebrates the millennia-old craft of this ornamental metalwork. But cultural souvenirs aren’t limited to Portugal’s big cities. The Burel Factory in Manteigas is proof of this, producing woollen goods flike blankets from the mountain sheep of the Serra da Estrela.
Culinary treats
Another great way for clients to keep their Portuguese holiday going that little bit longer is to bring a taste back home.
Porto and port wine are a pairing that need little introduction and a hop across the Douro River will put clients right in the heart of port country in Gaia. Here, centuries-old cellars offer guided tours to learn about the wine’s ageing process, as well as a variety of tastings and pairings with artisanal chocolates.
The cultural World of Wine district takes things a step further with its immersive museums, shops and restaurants. For something different, coastal Matosinhos near Porto has offered a peek into the Portuguese canned fish industry for over a century. Clients can take guided factory tours, buy products and even create their own personalised can.
Homely treasures
The ultimate souvenir is one that has heads turning when a client reunites with friends and family back home. Head to Portugal’s core in Caldas da Rainha and visit the Bordallo Pinheiro Factory, which honours the life and work of the country’s most celebrated ceramicist by producing a range of vases, crockery and earthenware.
But boutiques across Lisbon and Porto offer spaces for Portuguese fashion labels and next-gen designers to fuel the country’s dynamic arts scene, meaning clients can come away with the ideal keepsake.
For more information, head to visitportugal.com
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Ingehogenbijl, Pcala