Porto Cathedral | Portugal

The Porto Cathedral is a powerful blend of Romanesque austerity and Baroque grandeur, standing like a stone sentinel over the city. From medieval battlements to gilded altars, every corner tells a chapter of Portugal’s sacred past.

The Porto Cathedral is a Romanesque-Gothic building dating from the 12th and 13th centuries, which underwent major renovations during the Baroque period (17th-18th centuries). Inside, it still retains the appearance of a fortress church, with battlements.

The beautiful rose window (12th century) is noteworthy. In the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, the famous “silver altar” stands out, which is enormous in size and was made in successive phases (from 1632 to the 19th century). It is considered a fundamental work of Portuguese goldsmithing, with extensive biblical iconography centered on the Eucharist.

The modern chandelier was designed by Teixeira Lopes. The important Gothic cloister was begun at the end of the 14th century. It features seven large tile panels (second quarter of the 18th century) with scenes from the “Song of Songs,” referring to the mystical dialogue between God and the Virgin, patron saint of the Cathedral. The neighboring “old cloister” was once part of the so-called “Bishop’s Cemetery.” Some interesting archaeological elements are located here.

The chapel of St. Vincent (late 16th century), with its sober classical architecture, features a remarkable 17th-century choir stalls with biblical scenes from the Old and New Testaments. Several bishops of Porto are buried here.

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