Clérigos Tower and Church

Portuguese history, culture and tradition

The Clérigos are the ex-libris of the city of Porto and the monumental work of Nicolau Nasoni. The restricted conditions of the terrain made this work quite distinctive. His creator, on the other hand, only wanted to be buried in the church as a poor brother.

A National Monument

This architectural complex of Clérigos is, without a doubt, one of the main points of interest in the city of Porto. Classified since 1910 as a National Monument, it is a monumental work by the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, the one he saw with the greatest projection. Inspired by Baroque architecture, its project consists of a Church and a Tower, united by the House of the Brotherhood, formerly used as a hospital for poor clerics, and is now a museum. The beginning of the works took place in 1732 and were completed in 1763, however, those of the church proved to be hard to finish due to the need to rehabilitate the foundations of its facade and were only completed in 1749.

Distinguished Work

Nasoni took advantage of the high slope of the street to create a grandiose vertical development of the church’s facade, served by a double staircase with balustrade and vases in the corners. The niches present are filled with the images of St. Peter and St. Paul and the window on the second level presents the papal miter. This church would become the first in Portugal with an oval plan, with the unique feature of a gallery that surrounds the entire nave. Its interior is well lit by the various windows present, enhancing the brightness of the gilded carving and the reflections of the marble stone.

The rectangular chancel is composed of a marble altar and a rococo altarpiece by the artist Manuel dos Santos Porto, in which the crowned throne of Our Lady of the Assumption, the patron saint, stands out. The co-patrons, St. Peter Ad Vincula and St. Philip Neri, flank the altarpiece in two painted wooden sculptures. These are the patron saints who made up each brotherhood before its union into one. The chancel is also flanked by two Portuguese pipe organs and a chair. The coat of arms of the Brotherhood of Clerics is displayed on the dome, in pretended granite and supported by six pilasters.

A Space Rich in Culture

The House of the Brotherhood, where the museum is located, consists of the House of Dispatch, the Safe Room, the Notary’s Office, and the old infirmary, having a rich collection of cultural assets from the thirteenth to the twentieth century, with collections of sculpture, painting, furniture and jewelry distributed over the various floors that are served by a staircase.

A Multi-Function Tower

It was in 1753 that Nasoni presented the project for a bell tower, at the request of the Brotherhood of Clerics, built in granite more than 75 meters high. The initial project foresaw the construction of two towers next to the façade of the church, but the size of the land did not allow it, forcing a more distinct design than was traditional. Divided into six floors, and with a spiral staircase access with 225 steps to the top, it has a carillon with 49 bells weighing about 10 tons.

At the time of its construction, it was recognized as the tallest monument in Portugal, providing a privileged panoramic view of the city and over the Douro River. Being unquestionably the ex-libris of the city, it also had other important functions in the past as a guide to ships heading to the Douro River, as the tower was seen from long distances. It was also given the function of the city’s clock, operated by a device that was installed in the highest part of the tower and that through a mortar, detonated by the action of the sun in its highest position (noon), informed the entire city of lunchtime.

It was also used to inform merchants of the arrival of the English Royal Chest boat (with payments for goods sent before and new expected orders) that on the day before its arrival, two flags were hoisted on the top of the tower. It is noteworthy that Nasoni did not accept any payment for his project, as his desire was to be admitted as a member of the brotherhood and to be buried in the church as a poor brother.

Experiences

Climb the 225 steps of the iconic Clérigos Tower and enjoy one of the most rewarding panoramic views of the city of Porto. Get to know the interior of the church and museum of this phenomenal monument and marvel at this distinctive work by Nicolau Nasoni.

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The Clérigos area is one of the places with the most sought-after accommodation in the city. My accommodation suggestions are very centrally located so that you can feel and live the soul of the city up close and get to know its historic neighborhoods. Get to know my accommodation sugestions.

Here in Clérigos you will find some of the most interesting monuments in the city of Porto and the “Tour 3 – Downtown, Clérigos, Vitória e Virtudes” takes you to discover these iconic places and the stories that mark liberalism in Portugal. Discover the city of Porto and learn about its history and culture with the Walkinporto app.