Literature, art and contemporary architecture took centre stage in the international promotion of Porto and the North of Portugal at Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty – through Casa Portugal – Viagens Literárias, an initiative organised by Visit Portugal and Casa da Arquitetura, one of our partners in the Rotas do Norte project.

For the third consecutive year, Casa Portugal brought together literature, gastronomy, wine and tourism, presenting Portugal as a destination to be discovered through its stories and its renowned writers. This year's edition also marked the first joint participation of Portugal's four Regional Tourism Promotion Agencies, highlighting the richness and diversity of the country's literary and cultural landscapes.

Representing Porto and the North of Portugal, President Luís Pedro Martins took part in the panel discussion "Um Mapa Literário de Portugal", alongside Ana Cota, Fernando Pinto de Amaral, José Luís Peixoto and Nuno Cacilhas. The discussion explored how literature can serve as a gateway to discovering Portugal, connecting authors, places and cultural projects from across the country.

The President of Porto and North of Portugal - Convention & Visitors Bureau also participated in the panel “A arquitetura enquanto fator de desenvolvimento e valorização dos territórios”, together with Nuno Sampaio, Executive Director of Casa da Arquitetura, Luciana Casagrande, State Secretary for Culture of Paraná, and Roberto Gevaerd, Director of Embratur – the Brazilian Tourist Board.

Throughout the programme organised by Visit Portugal, Luís Pedro Martins also attended several key sessions, including "Olhares do Brasil sobre Portugal", which brought together Brazilian journalists who had previously visited Porto and the North, as well as the Central Portugal region, as part of a press trip dedicated to literary tourism. He also attended the ChefsWeek banquet, the writers' lunch hosted by Portugal's Secretary of State for Tourism.

By taking part in both programmes, Porto and the North of Portugal reinforced its commitment to promoting the region through culture, demonstrating how literature and architecture can inspire visitors to experience the destination in a deeper and more meaningful way.