Culture + Design Architecture + Design A Photographer Captures the Rich Art Deco Heritage of Porto, Portugal How studying Porto's iconic architecture helped one photographer see the historic harbor city in a new light. By Travel + Leisure Editors Travel + Leisure Editors Since 1971, Travel + Leisure editors have followed one mission: to inform, inspire, and guide travelers to have deeper, more meaningful experiences. T+L's editors have traveled to countries all over the world, having flown, sailed, road tripped, and taken the train countless miles. They've visited small towns and big cities, hidden gems and popular destinations, beaches and mountains, and everything in between. With a breadth of knowledge about destinations around the globe, air travel, cruises, hotels, food and drinks, outdoor adventure, and more, they are able to take their real-world experience and provide readers with tried-and-tested trip ideas, in-depth intel, and inspiration at every point of a journey. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Published on October 2, 2020 "As a kid, I spent every summer visiting my extended family in Portugal," says New York City–based photographer Armando Rafael. "Porto was always my favorite city — there's a grittiness, a raw quality, but also a liveliness. I love walking around without a specific agenda, seeing if anything pops out." On a recent trip for Travel + Leisure, something new caught Rafael's eye. "I toured around with an old army friend of my father's, who told me about Porto's history and showed me all the iconic Art Deco buildings." This Modernist movement, having emerged from Paris a decade earlier, exerted a strong influence on Portuguese architects in the 1930s and 40s. Rafael wandered Baixa, the historic center, shooting preserved masterworks that have become beloved symbols of Porto's urban identity. "Now when I visit, I always notice the fonts and façades. I love those little moments of recognition." — as told to Hannah Walhout Armando Rafael From left: A historic perfume warehouse on Rua das Flores, today repurposed as the restaurant Cantina 32; Casa Cerdeira, a popular grocery and gift shop. Armando Rafael Casa de Serralves, a mansion designed for the Count of Vizela in the 1930s by Porto-born, Paris-trained architect José Marques da Silva. Armando Rafael From left: The original awning at Armazéns Cunhas department store; Coliseu do Porto, which houses a theater and concert hall, opened in 1941. Armando Rafael From left: Passos Manuel parking garage, which opened in 1939; Cinema Batalha, built between 1944 and 1947, is set to reopen in 2021 after an extensive renovation. A version of this story first appeared in the June 2020 issue of Travel + Leisure under the headline "Lasting Impressions." Updated by Hannah Walhout Hannah Walhout Hannah Walhout is a senior editor at Travel + Leisure, where she edits the Discoveries section of the print magazine and develops longer stories focusing on food, wine, and spirits. She has previously worked at Food & Wine and in the writing program at NYU Abu Dhabi. learn more Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit