Italianate village of Portmeirion is a fantasy town, a unique village dreamed up by an architect called Clough Williams-Ellis. Built from 1925 to 1975 on a peninsula off the coast of Snowdonia, the village was the setting for the famous T. V. series, The Prisoner.
Portmeirion has all sorts of architectural elements such as fountains, statues, paths, arches, cottages, balconies, cobbles, gateways and many others. It’s a strange jewel in a magnificent setting, inspired by medieval Tuscan hill towns and partly by Portofino.
Portmeirion is now owned by a charitable trust and is run by Sir Clough’s grandson, Robin Llywelyn. If you want to stay in the village, you can hire cottages which are part of the Portmeirion Hotel.
The village is surrounded by sub-tropical woodlands and miles of sandy beaches. If you enjoy gardens then this is the place for you! Also, there are several shops, restaurants and cafe. For an excellent day out why not visit Portmeirion Village. Believe me, it’s a full day out for the family and will appeal adults and children alike.
Getting There:
Portmeirion is a two-hour drive from Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham and nearly five hours from London. Trains to the nearest major stop, Bangor, are three and a half hours from London or two hours from Manchester. Taxi service is also available.
Source: The New York Times
