Caza das Vellas Loreto Lisbon

Caza das Vellas Loreto, was founded on the same day of the French Revolution, 14th of July 1789. They brought light into the dark narrow streets of Lisbon, once candle lighting was employed in cities. Another fact occurred back in 1845: The shop received a request to supply extra candles to illuminate the salon where Franz Liszt, the great Hungarian composer was to be received shortly before conducting a concert at the city's grand Teatro Nacional de São Carlos.

Their core business: Candles for different purposes: Religious, birthdays, decorative and also tailor-made candles. Baptism candles are one of the items with more demand. There's also seasonal products like Eastern Eggs shaped candles or Christmas candles.

The small and unique shop decorated in dark wood is located near the Bairro Alto quarter, but one can easily miss it. Inside, candles are displayed in handsome wood-framed glass cabinets. The small wooden counter hides a big corridor that is used for storing the candles. 

Maria Sá Pereira, co-manager, told us all the candles are handmade and they use only their own molds. The shop has been in the same family for generations, and they keep developing new ideas, shapes and forms for the candles. The newest one being a shell with a candle.

Candles are scented with lavender, rosemary, honey, cinnamon and also pomegranate (a very strong symbol in Europe since medieval times), just to name a few. 

It's also possible to refill a candle, if a client demands, so a candle can last... forever!