Solar do Vinho in Porto closed

[Christian Gollnick]

Hello Friends,
With a certain sadness I saw today that the Solar do Vinho do Porto in Porto is closed - already since January, and maybe forever...
Here is the article: http://www.publico.pt/Local/solar-do-vi ... 550755?p=1
I was somehow surprised that nobody mentioned this here in our Forum before - which somehow seems to proof the point that the Solar wasn't so important as I thought it was. I must confess that I have been there only a few times - and if I have to chose between spending a few hours at VINOLOGIA or the Solar, I would absolutely pick VINOLOGIA.
However, Port and Porto is about traditions. And the Solar do Vinho do Porto was a good place to get people interested into Port. Beautiful location. However, it seems like everything in Porto gravitates towards the river and Ribeira - what tourists can't reach by foot they normally don't notice... And it seems like the Solar was just too far away.
As I understand the article, the Solar made last year a loss of EUR 44,000... Well, I personally prefer that the IVDP loses this amount while providing a nice setting for the "normal public" to experience some Port rather then closing down the place and not to lose any money... while waiting that the government realizes that the IVDP still has some money and confiscates it... like the EUR 8 million in the past... A tiny part of that amount would have been enough to re-model the Solar and to make this a state-of-the-art entertainment-facility...
We see many port shippers openeing nice lodges in Gaia or re-modeling the old lodges; even in these difficult times of the national crisis - which makes me appreciate these brave decisions even more.
I hope that one day the Solar will open again - it wasn't my preferred place - but it was one of the few places on this planet dedicated to the appreciation of Port.

[Andy Velebil]

Wow, I didn't hear that. Very sad as it was a nice place to relax and enjoy some Port. But you are right about it being a bit out of the way, and not easy to find. Some place closer to the river would be ideal if they open one up again in the future.

[Glenn E.]

That's sad to hear - I, too, have enjoyed the Solar in the past. The setting was amazing, though admittedly not easily accessible.

[David Spriggs]

Wow... I'm really saddened to hear that. I loved that place. Yes, the location was a big issue and certainly reduced the traffic. Thanks for letting us all know!

[Moses Botbol]

Maybe they can lease it to a private party than can turn it into a success?

[Roy Hersh]

Then where are they going with that disco ball?