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BAROQUE

Baroque is reflected in Porto in innumerable expressive buildings of civil and religious architecture.
Architects such as António Pereira and Nicolau Nasoni gave the city some of the most representative examples of this style, calling forth a complete transformation of the urban landscape in the seventeen hundreds. Throughout the 17th and 18th century the city resembled a "workshop" of artists and craftsmen, who produced a significant collection of works of high aesthetic value. The virtuosity of Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian artist who studied in Sienna and Rome, is mostly shown in the art he used to work with granite, in buildings such as the Clérigos Church and Tower, the façade of the Misericórdia Church and the Freixo Palace.

The Cathedral, of Romanesque origin, was one of the first buildings to undergo baroque adaptations, as can be seen in the chancel, crypt, vestry, and cloisters.

One of the most salient characteristics of the new style is the polychromy and exuberance of forms. The combination of golden revetments with paintings and azulejos (the traditional blue-painted illustrated tiles that are found all over Porto), created an atmosphere of unforgettable beauty.

The gilt carvings, one of the most vibrant expressions of Porto's baroque, are shown at their best in the retables of the churches of São Francisco and Santa Clara.

Cathedral

(2006) Cláudio Almeida / Associação Porto Digital

Terreiro da Sé

Constructed in the Romanesque style in the 12th century, the building underwent various changes in the baroque period. Worthy of notice in the interior are the paintings of Nicolau Nasoni, the high retable of gilt carvings, and the silver altar of the Blessed Sacrament. Also worth noting in the baroque style are the azulejos (tiles) of the cloisters, the crypt and the staircase linking the cloisters to the chapter house, whose ceiling is remarkable.

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2.	Bishop's Palace

Terreiro da Sé

After its construction in the 13th century Bishop D. Rafael de Mendonça remodelled it sometime after 1770. This palace, the largest in the city, has been ascribed to the architect Nicolau Nasoni.

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3.	Canon Domingos Barbosa's House

Rua de D. Hugo

This building was constructed in the 18th century to house one of the most illustrious canons of the Porto's Diocese. It is believed to be the work of Nicolau Nasoni, or of his assistant, master António Pereira. Today, it serves as a museum exhibiting a collection of the works of the poet Guerra Junqueiro.

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4.	Santa Clara Church

Largo 1º de Dezembro

A building of gothic origin, whose interior was redone in gilt carvings in the early 18th century. A true jewel of the baroque, it impresses the visitor with its decorative exuberance and harmonious combination of gilt carvings and azulejos (tiles).

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5.	Terço's Order Church

Rua de Cimo de Vila

This project, begun in 1759, is of an unknown architect. The carved granite façade shows rococo elements and the interior is decorated with stucco and engravings. The retable of the chancel is dated 1776 and was created by José Teixeira Guimarães. Nossa Senhora do Terço e Caridade Hospital has adjoined this church since 1781.

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6.	Santo Ildefonso Church

(2006) Nikola Raspop / Associação Porto Digital

Praça da Batalha

The new Santo Ildefonso Church, built between 1730 and 1737, is of an unknown architect. Despite the graceless façade, the retable of the chancel displays all the elegance of its reworking. The engravings could be ascribed to Nicolau Nasoni.

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7.	Nossa Senhora da Esperança Church

Av. Rodrigues de Freitas (ao Jardim de S.Lázaro)

This building was erected between 1724 and 1743 on the terrace of São Lázaro, by the hand of master António Pereira, as the Orphan Girls Asylum. The construction of the church began in 1746, following the plans of Nicolau Nasoni according to some. The interior shows various carved retables in the baroque style.

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8.	Terceiros do Carmo Church

Rua do Carmo

A church constructed in the late 18th century according to a project of the architect José Figueiredo Seixas. The stonework façade, crowned by an ample pediment that holds the figures of the four evangelists, shows the influence of the style created by Nicolau Nasoni.

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9.	Clérigos Church and Tower

Rua de S. Filipe Nery

This architectonic whole was built between 1732 and 1773 for the Brotherhood of Clergymen. Various artists worked on the construction of the church, among them Nicolau Nasoni and the master mason António Pereira whose work should be highlighted. The tower, which sets the building apart from others, is one of the masterworks of Nicolau Nasoni and is considered one of the city's landmarks

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10.	S. João Novo Palace

Largo de S. João Novo

Built under the guidance of Master António Pereira, in the second quarter of the 18th century for Pedro da Costa Lima, a nobleman of the Royal House who carried out various public duties in the city. Noteworthy are the main façade and the majestic interior staircase.

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11.	Misericórdia Church's façade

Rua das Flores

This is one of the most significant examples of Porto's 17th-century architecture, built by Nicolau Nasoni. The work is dated 1750 and within its grand scenic effect the influence of the new decorative style - rococo - is noticeable.

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12.	S. Francisco Church and Casa do Despacho

This church, constructed in the 14th century, is the most significant church built in the gothic style. Because of its interior revetment in gilt carvings from the 17th to the 18th century, it is a very important example of the baroque architecture. To be noticed is the Árvore de Jessé (Jesse's Tree), by master Manuel Carneiro Adão.

The Casa do Despacho was built under the guidance of Nicolau Nasoni between 1746 and 1749. The interior is richly decorated, and of special mention is the 18th-century furniture.

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Porto baroque can also be appreciated in other monuments, apart from those described above, such as the beautifully engraved interior of the Igreja de S. João da Foz do Douro, the retable of the Igreja de S. Pedro de Miragaia or even the palatial structures of the Casa de Ramalde or the Quinta da Prelada and Bonjóia, representative sites, the most virtuous example of them all being the Palácio do Freixo.

Made of Granite, baroque, romantic, reflected in the river... this is Porto. But, for whoever wants to discover it, Porto holds many surprises. Alongside its hospitable nature which preserves tradition, there is a contemporary, creative city.

The signs of this “savoir faire” are found in streets, literature, architecture, monuments, arts, restaurants, and in commercial and leisure areas.

Find out for yourself how tradition and modernity can live in harmony.

Come and savour the culture and charm of this vintage Port, wandering through this ancient city that looks forward to the future.