UNESCO's classification


​Considering the unique features of Porto’s historical centre, it was classified by the UNESCO as “World Cultural Heritage” in December 1996. The classified area comprises the medieval borough located inside the fourteenth-century Romanesque wall. It includes the oldest buildings in the city, as well as typical streets and attractive public areas. The development of Porto was closely connected with the left margin of River Douro, and the proposal included the highly significant Luís I Bridge, designed by the architect Théophile Seyrig (a disciple of Gustav Eiffel), and the prominent building of the Augustinian Convent of Serra do Pilar.

The protection area corresponds to the former outskirts of the medieval city on both sides of the river. In Vila Nova de Gaia, this area includes the amphitheater-shaped slope where the Port Wine cellars are located. On the north margin, it comprises the ancient borough of Miragaia, the northern belt whose renovation was begun in the eighteenth century, the ancient area of Santo Ildefonso, the slopes of Guindais and the terraces of Fontaínhas that descend towards the River Douro.

"Área classificada" – Classified area; "Área protegida" – Protected area



Main buildings considered relevant heritage in the centre of Porto:

  1. Cathedral
  2. Bishop’s Palace
  3. Church of São Lourenço (Grilos)
  4. Tower D. Pedro Pitões
  5. Casa da Câmara (medieval building of the old City Hall, now Tourism Office - Sé)
  6. Oratory of the Chapel of São Sebastião
  7. Primitive Wall
  8. House at Rua de D. Hugo nº5
  9. House at Beco dos Redemoinhos
  10. Guerra Junqueiro House Museum
  11. House of the Freires de Andrade
  12. Church of Nossa Senhora do Patrocínio (former Recolhimento do Ferro)
  13. D. Fernando WalL
  14. House of the Guindais Elevator (Guindais Funicular)
  15. Church of Santa Clara
  16. Palace of the Condes de Azevedo
  17. Recolhimento da Porta do Sol (or Recolhimento de N.ª S.ª das Dores and S. José das Meninas Desamparadas)
  18. Chapel of Alfaiates or Nossa Senhora de Agosto
  19. Building of the Civil Government (former Casa Pia)
  20. São João Theatre
  21. Church of Ordem do Terço
  22. Praça da Batalha
  23. D. Pedro V Monument
  24. Palace of Batalha
  25. Church of Santo Ildefonso
  26. Church of Congregados
  27. São Bento Railway Station
  28. Praça da Liberdade (square) and Avenida dos Aliados (avenue)
  29. D. Pedro IV Monument
  30. Porto City Hall
  31. Church of Trindade
  32. Church of Clérigos
  33. Faculty of Science (Former Polytechnic Academy)
  34. Church of Terceiros do Carmo
  35. Church of Carmelitas
  36. Institute for Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (Former “Escola Médico-Cirúrgica”)
  37. Santo António Hospital
  38. Building of Cooperativa Árvore (Casa dos Albuquerques)
  39. Virtudes Sidewalk
  40. Cordoaria Garden
  41. Chapel of S. José das Taipas
  42. Former Gaol (Portuguese Centre for Photography)
  43. Church of S. Bento da Vitória
  44. House of José Monteiro de Almeida
  45. Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória
  46. House at Rua de S. Miguel, n.º 4
  47. Church of Misericórdia
  48. House of the Cunha Pimentéis
  49. Building of the former Douro Insurance Company
  50. Belomonte Palace (House of the Pacheco Pereira)
  51. Former English Club (Building on Rua das Virtudes)
  52. São João Novo Palace
  53. Church of São João Novo
  54. Church of São Pedro de Miragaia
  55. Palace of Sereias
  56. Porto Customs
  57. São Francisco Hospital
  58. Office of the Ordem Terceira de São Francisco
  59. Church of Terceiros de São Francisco
  60. Church of S. Francisco
  61. Stock Exchange Palace
  62. Douro and Port Wines Institute
  63. Ferreira Borges Market
  64. Praça do Infante D. Henrique (square)
  65. Infante D. Henrique Monument (Prince Henry, the Navigator)
  66. Church of S. Nicolau
  67. House at Rua da Reboleira, n.º 55
  68. House at Rua da Reboleira, n.º 59
  69. Chapel of Nossa Senhora do Ó
  70. Casa do Infante, Porto Municipal History Archive (or Old Customs)
  71. English Factory
  72. Ribeira Square and Quay
  73. Postigo do Carvão (Wall entrance)
  74. Alminhas da Ponte (memorial)
  75. Pillars of the Suspension Bridge
  76. Luís I Bridge
  77. House of Companhia Velha
  78. House of the Sousa e Silva
  79. House of the Constantinos
  80. House of the Maias
  81. Former D. Lopo Hospital
  82. Praça de D. João I (square)
  83. Tower of Rua de Baixo
  84. Fountain at Rua Escura
  85. Fountain at Rua das Taipas
  86. Fountain of Anjo (Largo da Sé)
  87. Fountain of Virtudes
  88. Fountain of Colher
  89. Fountain at Rua de S. João (Praça da Ribeira)
  90. Former Restaurante Comercial
  91. Art Nouveau house (Rua Galeria de Paris, n.º 28)
  92. Art Nouveau house (Rua Cândido Reis n. 75, 79)
  93. Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Silva
  94. House Vicent
  95. House Reis, Filhos


Published 11-09-2013
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