The initial stretch of the now Rua Mouzinho da Silveira - where PANAMAR is located - was known until its opening around 1880 as Rua das Congostas, leading to Rua Nova dos Ingleses, with the former name of Rua Formosa de D. João I, named after the great promoter of the city as a religious and mercantile metropolis. Later it was also named Rua Nova dos Ingleses because of the Port Wine businesses and the special relationship between the two countries and, finally, Rua Infante D. Henrique (Henry the Navigator st.) to honor the man behind the Portuguese overseas discoveries.

It is in this historic area that the Panamar building (PAN A MAR) is located, the very name honors the historicity of the place, in a true ode to the development of humanity and, particularly, a tribute to Portugal and its role in the world.

You will feel this affection for the country as you enter this XIX century building. Francisco José de Araújo, an important merchant, ordered the construction, where for more than a century, several export and import business were located. Products from distant countries by way of the Douro River, they were disembarked at the Alfandega Nova and then transported to the famous S. Bento Station, whence the steam trains would depart to the many regions of the country.

The origins...

It is, therefore, this love for Portugal that immediately pervades our senses, thought the imposing granite walls with five meters high. The birthday of Portugal is reputed to be the great granite cliff located a few dozen meters from Panamar, where about 2600 years ago a Celtic hillfort with the name Kal - stone or rock in Celtic - was strategically located on this high and defensive position. Today this ancient city contains the northern entrance of the Luiz I Bridge next to the old Fernandina Wall, the Episcopal Palace and the Cathedral, as well as the oldest district of the entire city with the same toponymy that, two millennia later, became the vibrant Cidade Invicta, now a Unesco World Heritage Site. It is said then that it is from this stone overlooking the Ribeira area - where fishing boats used to dock and maritime commerce would flourish - that the name Portugal came from, whose name, already Romanized, became Portus de Kal (i.e. the river port located next to the cliff), then Portus Cal, hence Portugal.

But one's gaze is almost immediately lost in the romantic beauty of the neo-Gothic wooden doors inspired by the S. Francisco Church, built by the king João I in the 14th century, whose various layers that covered it for 140 years, were brought to the surface by the talent of Manuela Andrade who dared to reveal its essence and the genius.

Right next to it, the old wall reveals the interlacing of the partition walls in the light of the elegant chandeliers that light the space in a languid and romantic tone.

Adorning the undulating counter, another piece - rescued from the debris of the ruined building acquired in 2015 by Paulo Cunha and Manuela Andrade - peaks one's curiosity. Like an echo to the thought, it is revealed to us serenely, almost as if in a lull, to be the handrail of the staircase that would give access to the upper floors. If it were not for the action of Manuela Andrade, it certainly would have been destroyed - now it has another purpose, another life... (learn more).