Porto, Portugal, is a city where history, culture, and architecture come together, making it feel like a living museum. And then there’s Lello Bookstore. If you’ve ever heard of this bookshop, you might know it as the “Harry Potter Library”.
Its stunning staircase and grand design have enchanted many visitors, especially Harry Potter fans, or “Potterheads”, who come hoping to find traces of J.K. Rowling’s magical world. But here’s the truth: Livraria Lello didn’t inspire Harry Potter. Not even close. Join us on a tour to discover the real Porto beyond the “Harry Potter Library”.
Beyond the ‘Harry Potter Library’ Myth: Porto’s Real Influence on the Series
J.K. Rowling lived in Porto for only two years, but that was enough to create many urban myths intertwining Harry Potter and the city. In 1991, the Harry Potter’s “mother” arrived in Porto to teach English, and it was here that she, in her own words, “wrote what has become my favorite chapter in The Philosopher’s Stone: The Mirror of Erised”. Porto undoubtedly had an influence on her life, but do these urban myths hold any truth?
Did Lello Bookshop inspire Flourish and Blotts or Hogwarts’ Grand Staircase?
A popular theory suggests that Livraria Lello inspired Flourish and Blotts, the famous bookshop in Harry Potter. However, if you compare the bookshop to its depiction in the movies or video games, the similarities are limited to the presence of books.
Another common belief is that Lello’s red staircase inspired Hogwarts’ moving staircases. But in reality, Hogwarts’ staircases are straight, while Lello’s are curved.
Rowling has publicly denied any connection, tweeting in 2020: “I was never inspired by Lello’s, I didn’t even enter it. It’s beautiful, and I wish I had visited it, but it has nothing to do with Hogwarts!”
Did Rowling Write in Majestic Café or Lello Bookstore?
Many claim that J.K. Rowling wrote the first draft of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on a napkin at Café Majestic. However, Majestic was already an expensive place back in 1991, and Rowling lived on a tight budget. Additionally, while Lello Bookstore briefly served tea and coffee in the early 2000s, its low tables would have made writing uncomfortable.
Did Portuguese Dictator Salazar Inspire Salazar Slytherin?
Many believe Salazar Slytherin was named after Portugal’s former dictator, António de Oliveira Salazar. While Rowling has not confirmed this, Professor Christopher Rollason pointed out the likely connection in his article An English Teacher in Porto: In Search of Joanne Rowling. Salazar ruled Portugal with an iron grip from 1933 to 1968, enforcing policies that kept literacy rates low — making him a fitting namesake for one of Harry Potter’s darkest figures.
Did Porto’s Student Uniform Inspire Hogwarts’ Attire?
Porto’s university students wear traditional black cloaks, part of the Praxe Académica, a tradition dating back centuries. Seeing them walking through the city does feel reminiscent of Hogwarts students. Though the books don’t reference crests and colors like the movies do, Rowling, who was involved in the films, may have drawn inspiration from this local tradition.
Did Escovaria de Belomonte Inspire Harry Potter’s Broomsticks?
Since 2016, some have claimed that Harry Potter’s broomsticks, like the Nimbus 2000, were inspired by the brooms sold at Escovaria de Belomonte, a traditional brush shop in Porto. While no official confirmation exists, the resemblance between the shop’s handcrafted brooms and those described in Harry Potter adds to the intrigue.
Is Fonte dos Leões the Inspiration for Gryffindor’s Symbol?
A newer myth claims that Fonte dos Leões (the Lion’s Fountain) inspired Gryffindor’s house emblem. Some locals even argue that the statues depict griffins rather than lions. However, the figures lack the eagle’s head and talons of a true griffin, resembling instead the winged lion symbol of Venice. Rowling, well-versed in mythology, would not have confused the two.
The real story
Harry Potter was conceived in 1990 during a train ride between Manchester and London, where Rowling first imagined a young boy with glasses and a lightning-shaped scar. Over the next few years, she developed her ideas, scribbling notes wherever she could.
When she moved to Porto to teach at Encounter English, she brought her dreams with her and the city became part of her story. In Porto, she taught English, wrote, drank coffee, married a local journalist, had a daughter, and got divorced. The city was a chapter in her life, but it didn’t birth Hogwarts.
In the apartment where she stayed, Rowling met her housemates: Aine Kiely from Ireland and Jill Prewett from England. If you’re familiar with the Harry Potter books, you might recognize these names. In Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third book in the series, there’s a dedication that reads: “For Jill Prewett and Aine Kiely, the godmothers of Swing”. Swing was a club in Porto where they all spent time together. So, yes: Porto left a mark.
Following the end of her marriage, the writer returned to the UK with the first three chapters of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in her suitcase. Rowling has said that this union gave her the greatest gift of her life: her daughter, Jessica.
The book was eventually published in 1997 under the name J.K. Rowling, as her publisher believed that a feminine name, like Joanne, might deter the book’s target audience: boys.
Even though Rowling has publicly denied the connection with Lello Bookstore, the myth continues.
Why Does the Myth Persist?
Maybe because people love a good story; because tourists want magic, not nuance; and because Livraria Lello feels like it should be part of the Harry Potter universe. For many, that’s enough.
Should You Still Visit the Porto Harry Potter Library?
Even if it didn’t inspire Hogwarts, Livraria Lello remains a must-visit destination for its historical and architectural significance. However, if you want to avoid the lines at the Porto Harry Potter Library, the city has other gems — smaller, quieter, and just as charming. In the end, that’s where the real magic happens — not in myths or tourist traps, but in the quiet corners where real stories are born.
With love,
Your Bookworm Friends at Taste Porto
This blog post was co-written as part of the collaboration between City Tailors and Taste Porto.
