Fantastic view from the tower of the Igreja dos Clérigos

We stand on the street and look up to the top of the Clérigos Tower, one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Porto. Porto’s landmark is one of the sights that no one should miss.

We climb the first steps to the entrance and begin our tour of the Clérigos Church, the Clérigos Tower and the Brotherhood House. The ensemble of buildings is considered one of the most remarkable late Baroque buildings in Portugal and has been a national monument since 1910.

The Brotherhood of the Clérigos was founded at the beginning of the 18th century. They set themselves the task of helping the clergy in poverty, illness and death. In order to be able to build their own rooms, they collected donations over many years. Work began in 1732 and the church was built (1732-1749), followed by the brotherhood building (1754-1758) and the tower (1754-1763).

Church of the Clérigos

The Igreja dos Clérigos in Porto enchants visitors with its extraordinary architecture and art. The church, designed by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, boasts an impressive façade and an opulent interior.

The granite church consists of a nave spanned by a dome. During our visit, we were able to take a look inside the church from a gallery. The baroque design elements, which are typical of the 18th century construction period, are immediately noticeable.

It is a rather bright church with a large main altar and several smaller side altars. The ornate, gilded carvings and impressive paintings convey a sense of richness and reverence. The detailed wood carvings and skillful use of marble adorning the interior of the church are particularly noteworthy.

The elliptical floor plan of the nave is very striking. This floor plan means that the rows of pews become wider and wider towards the middle. The two baroque-style Iberian organs are particularly beautiful. They date from around 1770 and are still fully functional.

House of the Brotherhood

The Brotherhood House, also known as “Casa da Irmandade”, is an integral part of the Igreja dos Clérigos complex in Porto. The Brotherhood House was built after the necessary land was acquired in 1750 and donations were diligently collected. The Casa da Irmandade was also designed by Nicolau Nasoni, the architect of the Igreja dos Clérigos, and has similar Baroque stylistic elements. The building complex is rather simple and connects the church with the tower.

Originally, the building complex served as the headquarters of the Brotherhood of the Clérigos, a religious association that looked after the needs of the clergy in Porto. It had several functions, including meeting rooms for the members of the brotherhood, an infirmary and rooms for charitable and administrative purposes.

Today you walk through the Bruderhaus, which has been converted into a museum. There is a huge table in the Noble Hall. This is where people used to meet to discuss administrative and financial matters. Paintings depicting important members of the Brotherhood hang on the walls.

The former infirmary now houses an exhibition room with ecclesiastical objects.

Clérigos Tower

In 1753, Nicolau Nasoni extended the plans for the building complex to include the Clérigos Tower at the request of the brotherhood of clerics. Today, this is one of the most important sights for many visitors to Porto.

In 1763, after the cross crowned the tower, work was completed on the most beautiful and highest tower in Porto. This has a height of around 76 meters and was built from granite.

Access to the Clérigos Tower is through the adjacent Brotherhood House. An internal staircase spirals upwards. After climbing 240 steps, we finally reached the top and were able to enjoy an incomparable 360-degree view of Porto. You can see important landmarks such as Porto Cathedral, the Ponte Dom Luís I bridge, the Douro river and the colorful facades of the old town. In good weather, the view extends as far as the Atlantic Ocean and you can see the surrounding area of Porto in all its glory.

I think it’s definitely worth the climb. For me, the tower is the best viewpoint in the city.

We were up there during the day. If you prefer to enjoy the view over the city in the evening, you can do that too. The tower has very long opening hours.

Visitor information

Address

Rua Senhor Filipe de Nery,
4050-546 Porto, Portugal