Catedral de Oporto

Catedral Oporto - Poco a poco/Wikipedia

Porto Cathedral: in the heart of Portugal

Making the Portuguese Way is the Oporto Cathedral. Declared a National Monument, it is located in the Batalha neighborhood in Portugal. It is the most important religious building in the city, with incredible views of the Ribeira de Oporto.

Its origin dates back to the 12th century. Its original style is Romanesque, as can be seen in the poorly decorated interior and its exterior, sober with a classic rosette of the period on the facade. In the 13th century the works continued, and Gothic elements were incorporated. However, the cathedral is considered baroque today, due to later reconstructions, such as the doorway, the domes, the main altar, or the portico.

A mixture of aesthetic currents

In the Porto Cathedral you can enjoy the high altar with murals by Nicolau Nasoni, a leading architect of the city. It has three organs and an image of the Virgin of Our Lady of Vandomala, patron saint of Porto. The altar in the chapel of the Holy Sacrament, considered a jewel of Portuguese silverware and the funeral chapel of João Gordo, one of the men of King Dionysus I. However, what stands out most is its beautiful Gothic cloister with white and blue tiles representing Ovid's Metamorphoses.

The square where the cathedral is located has one of the best views of Porto, due to its location and altitude. The pilgrims who visit it can see the Duero, the city of Vila Nova de Gaia and the Ribeira. Also the old town with old buildings and colored facades.