Churches/Cathedrals, Porto

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Capela Das Almas is one of the prettiest churches in Porto even if it's nothing more than a little chapel really.
It has the exterior almost completely coverd in blue and white tiles from the 18th century and some very interesting 20th century paintings inside the church.

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Iglesia São Lourenço was built by the Jesuits in late 16th century, but after they were expelled from Portugal, the church became the home of the "Friars-Grilos". This gave the church its popular name Igreja dos Grilos...

The church has a few chapels, a huge main altar, and two side altars - where especially the altar with the death Jesus is worth a closer look. There is also a museum, the Museum of Sacred Art and Archaeology, which has many exhibits of sculptures, paintings, old books, and other religious artefacts. A tour through the museum will lead you to the choir and from there is a good view of the church room. And if you enter the small courtyard with the fishpond, you’ll find a few archaeological exhibitions...

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Sé Catedral do Porto (the Porto Cathedral) is located in the historical city centre of Porto. The fortress-like cathedral was built between the 12th and 13th century, but has been extensively altered in the 17th and 18th centuries.

A mass was about to start when I visited and I only had a quick look at the many richly decorated altars around the cathedral... Instead I spend some time at the connected Gothic cloister, built in the 14th century. It was quite interesting; many walls were covered with magnificent blue and white tiles, the sacristy was beautiful decorated, and a couple of the chapels were worth a visit - for instance Capela S. João Evangelista and Capela de S. Vicente with its golden altarpiece...

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Burnt in 1758 and rebuilt four years later, this small church close to St Francisco, mixes Neoclassical and Baroque styles. With Rococo decoration it has a reasonable collection of gold and silver pieces.

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This church is an absolute "Must see". So rich, in its gilded interiors, that picture is forbidden. Is a Gothic church from the 14th century, but its great attraction is the baroque decoration from the 18Th.
The ticket costs 3€ and allows free entrance at the adjacent museum.

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The Santo Ildefonso church is one of the most scenic churches in Porto.
It´s an 18th century church that is coverd in blue and white tiles.
The Tiles are both there because they are considerd beautiful, but also because they protect the church from humidity.
It´s really different from most other churces you see in this world and worth checking out.

Reading in Lifecooler that...

"Porto Cathedral is the cradle of the city, which has developed from here. It is a must-see monument, because of its artistic treasures. Built in the 12th century in Romanic style, the cathedral has deeply changed throughout time. The facade has two towers and in the middle of them, a rose window. In the inside, the naves have a vault shape. At the en of the central nave, you will find the high choir, illuminated by a Gothic style rose window. The main chapel was built in the 17th century in classic style, dominated by marbles of several colours. The urn with the remains of Holy São Pantaleão, city patron saint, is also a peculiar note worth highlighting."

... I must be ashamed! I only saw it from distance. To be honest, I visited it more than 30 years ago, but forgot what I saw. Of course, it will be a priority in my next visit to Porto.

This Baroque tower built in the 18th century is, maybe, the most famous building of Porto.

Centrally located, it's easy to reach and quick to see, being almost impossible to stroll in historic Porto without stumbling on it.

The church and monastery were started in the early 1200's, but not completed until 1410 in its Gothic form. It is considered to contain some of the finest examples of gilded caring wood in Portugal. The large alterpiece represents the Tree of Jesse and is from around 1718. The detailed carvings are simply amazing. There is also a museum and crypt.

Located in Praca Batalha, it is also known as Iegeja Batalha, this is a very picturesque church, with wonderful blue tiles set symetically facing the Praca. The original church dating from 1296 was in danger of collapsing and demolished in 1709. The new church was completed in 1739. Ir survived artillery fire in 1833 and a severe storm in 1819. Much is unknown about the original construction and recent archeology work uncovered 19 graves.