History

Its construction began in the first half of the 12th century, and continued until the beginning of the 13th century. This first building, in Romanesque style, underwent many changes over the centuries. The general character of the facade with the towers and the beautiful rose window dates back to the Romanesque period, 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, the Porto Cathedral being one of the first Portuguese buildings in which this architectural element was used.

In the Gothic period, around the year 1333, the funerary chapel of João Gordo, knight of the Order of Hospitallers and collaborator of D. Dinis, was built, buried in a tomb with a recumbent. The cloister also dates back to the Gothic period (14th-15th century), built during the reign of D. João I. This king married D. Filipa de Lencastre in the Cathedral of Porto 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 galilee to the side facade 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 chancel, there is a magnificent silver altar, built in the second half of the 17th century by several Portuguese artists. This was saved from French troops in 1807 by means of a hastily constructed plaster wall.

Also in this left area, the medieval image of Our Lady of Vandoma (patron saint of the city) is especially notable.

In the 17th century, the original Romanesque chancel (which was equipped with an ambulatory) was replaced by a larger one in Baroque style. The main altar, built between 1727-1729, is an important work of the Johannine Baroque, designed by Santos Pacheco and sculpted by Miguel Francisco da Silva. The mural paintings in the main chapel 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 includes three beautiful bodies. One of them, in the alto choir, marks a period in Portugal that began organic development. It is an instrument by the builder Jann, the same as the organ in the church of Lapa (Porto), both promoted by the effort and initiative of Cónego Ferreira dos Santos.