Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 41.142879035553, -8.611122996912744

The Sé do Porto, located in the heart of the historic center of the city of Porto, is one of the main and oldest monuments in Portugal.

History

The beginning of its construction dates back to the first half of the 12th century, and lasted until the beginning of the 13th century. This first building, in Romanesque style, underwent many alterations over the centuries. The general character of the façade dates back to the Romanesque period, with the towers and the beautiful rose window, in addition to the body of the church with three naves covered by a barrel vault. The vault of the central nave is supported by flying buttresses, with the Porto Cathedral being one of the first Portuguese buildings in which this architectural element was used.

In the Gothic era, around 1333, the funerary chapel of João Gordo, knight of the Order of Hospitallers and collaborator of D. Dinis, buried in a tomb with a recumbent, was built. The cloister also dates from the Gothic era (14th-15th century), built during the reign of King João I. This king married D. Filipa de Lencastre at the Porto Cathedral in 1387.

The exterior of the Cathedral was greatly modified in the Baroque period. Around 1736, the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni added a beautiful Baroque porch to the lateral façade of the Cathedral. Around 1772, a new portal was built to replace the original Romanesque one. The balustrades and domes of the towers are also baroque.

To the left of the main chapel is a magnificent silver altar, built in the second half of the 17th century by various Portuguese artists. This was saved from French troops in 1807 by means of a hastily built plaster wall.

Still in this area on the left, the medieval image of Nossa Senhora de Vandoma (patron saint of the city) is particularly notable.

In the 17th century, the original Romanesque chancel (which had an ambulatory) was replaced by a larger one in Baroque style. The high altar, built between 1727-1729, is an important piece of Joanine Baroque, designed by Santos Pacheco and sculpted by Miguel Francisco da Silva. The mural paintings in the chancel are by Nasoni. The south transept gives access to the 14th century cloisters and the Chapel of São Vicente. A graceful 18th-century staircase by Nasoni leads to the upper floors.

The Cathedral integrates three beautiful organs. One of them, in the high-choir, marks a period in Portugal that gives rise to organ development. It is an instrument by the builder Jann, the same builder of the organ in the church of Lapa (Porto), both promoted by the effort and initiative of Canon Ferreira dos Santos.

Photos:

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 41.142879035553, -8.611122996912744

The Sé do Porto, located in the heart of the historic center of the city of Porto, is one of the main and oldest monuments in Portugal.

History

The beginning of its construction dates back to the first half of the 12th century, and lasted until the beginning of the 13th century. This first building, in Romanesque style, underwent many alterations over the centuries. The general character of the façade dates back to the Romanesque period, with the towers and the beautiful rose window, in addition to the body of the church with three naves covered by a barrel vault. The vault of the central nave is supported by flying buttresses, with the Porto Cathedral being one of the first Portuguese buildings in which this architectural element was used.

In the Gothic era, around 1333, the funerary chapel of João Gordo, knight of the Order of Hospitallers and collaborator of D. Dinis, buried in a tomb with a recumbent, was built. The cloister also dates from the Gothic era (14th-15th century), built during the reign of King João I. This king married D. Filipa de Lencastre at the Porto Cathedral in 1387.

The exterior of the Cathedral was greatly modified in the Baroque period. Around 1736, the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni added a beautiful Baroque porch to the lateral façade of the Cathedral. Around 1772, a new portal was built to replace the original Romanesque one. The balustrades and domes of the towers are also baroque.

To the left of the main chapel is a magnificent silver altar, built in the second half of the 17th century by various Portuguese artists. This was saved from French troops in 1807 by means of a hastily built plaster wall.

Still in this area on the left, the medieval image of Nossa Senhora de Vandoma (patron saint of the city) is particularly notable.

In the 17th century, the original Romanesque chancel (which had an ambulatory) was replaced by a larger one in Baroque style. The high altar, built between 1727-1729, is an important piece of Joanine Baroque, designed by Santos Pacheco and sculpted by Miguel Francisco da Silva. The mural paintings in the chancel are by Nasoni. The south transept gives access to the 14th century cloisters and the Chapel of São Vicente. A graceful 18th-century staircase by Nasoni leads to the upper floors.

The Cathedral integrates three beautiful organs. One of them, in the high-choir, marks a period in Portugal that gives rise to organ development. It is an instrument by the builder Jann, the same builder of the organ in the church of Lapa (Porto), both promoted by the effort and initiative of Canon Ferreira dos Santos.

Photos: