Michael Portillo explores the vibrant Portuguese city of Porto in the first episode of new series, Portugal With Michael Portillo, featuring the city’s hidden gems and rich history. The series starts on Saturday, 1 March, on Channel 5.
Here’s the Lowdown: The series premiere focuses on Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Portillo explores the Bolhão neighborhood, home to a lively food market, and finds out why locals are called “Tripeiros.” He then crosses the Dom Luís I bridge to visit a Port wine lodge, learning about the traditional barrel-making process.
What This Means Now: The show highlights Porto as a top travel destination, recently named the World’s Best City Destination. It offers a look beyond the typical tourist spots, taking viewers into the city’s backstreets and introducing them to local characters.
The Bigger Picture: The series taps into the growing popularity of Portugal as a travel destination for British tourists. By exploring both famous and lesser-known locations, and focusing on the local culture and history, the series offers a richer, deeper understanding of the country. Portillo also learns about Porto’s Industrial Revolution past, its comparison to Manchester, and how a vast workforce powered it. The first episode finishes with a visit to a forgotten city center street where Portillo has a go at making a traditional brush.
