I visited a city with terracotta buildings, a stunning river and amazing food

As a child, I was tasked with painting my favourite place for an art class. Using vibrant oil crayons, I depicted the museum where I spent most of my weekends, filled with sculptures and artworks in ornate frames.

My love for museums has always been profound, so when given the opportunity to explore Porto's newest cultural district brimming with them, I jumped at the chance. World of Wine Porto (WOW) is a cluster of seven museums, six permanent and one rotating.

It also boasts twelve restaurants, a wine school, and numerous shops selling everything from local art to rubber ducks. Despite opening in 2020, arguably a challenging time to launch such an ambitious project, it's already gaining popularity.

Each museum delves into a facet of Portugal's history and culture, from exquisite chocolate to cork production, and the tradition of wine drinking through the ages, WOW caters to all age groups.

On our visit last Saturday, the district was alive with both tourists and locals, as people of all ages explored what WOW has to offer. Our tour began at The Chocolate Story, a deep dive into the origins and cultural significance of chocolate, tracing its history from the Aztecs and Mayans right up to the present day, reports the Mirror.

The museum is expertly curated, with information plaques in both English and Portuguese. After exploring the history of chocolate, visitors can head downstairs to the WOW Chocolate Factory, where workers clad in bright yellow temper and pour the chocolate, which can then be purchased in the gift shop or café.

Following the most exquisite chocolate tasting I've ever had, where we learned how to truly savour the luxury of chocolate with every sense, it was time to move on to the Wine Experience. This