5 Churches with blue tile facades in the city of Porto, Portugal

Edson Amorina Jr

2 years ago

5 Churches with blue tile facades in the city of Porto, Portugal

Even if you are not religious, the churches in the city of Porto in Portugal are tourist attractions that should be part of any travel itinerary, especially for the beauty of the blue tiles on their facades.

To help you plan, we’ve listed 5 of them that we really enjoy visiting.

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5 Churches with facades with blue tiles in the city of Porto in Portugal

This route can be done on foot, covering a distance of less than 3 km. And in addition to the churches themselves, you can also get to know and discover the beautiful streets and alleys of the city of Porto.

**Church of the Discalced Carmelites (Igreja dos Carmelitas Descalços) and Church of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo (Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo)**

In this photo there are actually two churches built next to each other. The Church of the Carmelites built in 1628 and which today is where the city’s National Republican Guard is located. Its facade is more serious, being basically composed of arches and granite structures. The other church is the Igreja do Carmo, inaugurated in 1768 and in it we can finally find a beautiful panel of tiles, which refers to the creation of the Carmelite Order and Mount Carmel in Israel.

The two churches were classified as a national monument in 2013.

Church of Saint Ildefonso (Igreja de Santo Ildefonso)

The Church of Santo Ildefonso was inaugurated in 1739 and its beautiful facade of blue tiles depicts scenes from the life of Saint Ildefonso, as well as the Eucharist, celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas or Capela de Santa Catarina)

The Capela das Almas was built in the 18th century on top of an old wooden chapel. And its façade is made up of 15,947 tiles depicting scenes from the life of Saint Francis of Assisi and Santa Catarina.

Because it is a more recent construction, the panels only covered the chapel in 1929, the blue is a very vivid color. Its exterior is really magnificent!

Church of Santo Antonio Dos Congregados

I chose this photo further away from the church to show the beautiful contrast formed by its blue facades and the neutral colors of its neighborhood. The Congregados Church was built in 1703 and its panels are dedicated to the life of Saint Anthony.

Cathedral Sé do Porto

Sé do Porto is located in the historic center of the city and is one of its most visited tourist attractions. Built in the 13th century, the cathedral has been extensively altered over time and its exterior has a lot of Baroque influence, with more neutral colors.

But if you look, you will find beautiful tile panels that narrate the Life of the Virgin, which tell scenes of Mary the hand of Jesus, and also of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, a poem with narratives of cosmology and the history of the world.

The cathedral is really beautiful, but for the coolest and most interesting places you need to buy a ticket. With the entrance in hand, you can visit the cloister, climb a part of the roof of the church, etc. You will probably be approached by students from the University of Porto to take a picture of you, and then try to sell it together with a book with the history of the city and a fado CD. Mine turned out really good… I couldn’t resist and bought it.

Which of these churches do you think is the most beautiful?

Guided tours and tourist attractions in Porto

Find the best offers to visit tourist attractions, guided tours and how to buy tickets to know the city, artistic and religious points of interest in Porto, Portugal:

Find the best accommodation deal in the City of Porto in Portugal

Tips on where to stay in Porto in Portugal with hotel, hostel and B&B suggestions:

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General international travel tips

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