Catedral Do Porto

Known as Se do Porto (Porto Cathedral), the cathedral towers over the city from the top of the historic quarter with a magnificent, solemn presence. Located on a scorpion of the Douro River, it is one of the most ancient and symbolic monuments in Portugal, a visual and spiritual reference that has been with the history of the city throughout the eight centuries. When one walks into the cathedral, you get a feeling of its fortified nature, immediately: the thick walls, the huge towers and compact look are more of a medieval stronghold than a place of worship, a reminder of the time when faith and the defence of the land were two inseparable.

The facade of the building is mostly Romanesque in style, which is the most notable in the main facade of the building and the twin towers, which frame the portal. The lines are plain and strong without any unnecessary ornamentation, and they create the impression of stability and security. The sobriety of the large central rose window gives way to the eye and allows the light to penetrate inside, establishing a silent conversation between the harsh outside and the religious inside space. Throughout the centuries, the cathedral has been changed and modified numerous times, which has contributed to the enrichment of the complex with Gothic and Baroque elements and turned it into an actual mosaic of the various architectural traditions.

After entering Se do Porto, the mood becomes entirely different. The half-light is greeting the visitor and the light penetrating the windows brings light and shadow contrasts on the stone walls. The central nave is large and austere and draws the eye to the high altar, inspiring one to be silent and reflect. The huge columns are used to carry the arches and they make the building look solid, which is the effect of the whole building. The interior still maintains the rigour of the original style, but is mellowed out with subsequent decorations giving it a more elegant look.

The Gothic cloister is one of the most interesting parts of the cathedral constructed during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. It is a small, sensual room, covered with the well-known Portuguese azulejos, blue-and-white painted tiles, which portray religious scenes and historical events in the country. Strolling down the cloister you feel as though you are going through a picture-story: behind every panel, it is whispering some of the past, and the tread of feet is making itself heard upon stones that Time has worn smooth. A little green courtyard provides some sense of relief in the centre, a slight contrast to the grandeur of the rest of the buildings.

The terrace leads to the cloister with the view of Douro River and the rooftops of Porto. It is a broad and alluring view here: the colourful houses are piled up on the hillsides, the river is running sluggishly below and the bridges are drawing graceful lines over the sky. This scenic perspective of Porto and the Douro contributes to making the visit to the cathedral not only an experience of spirituality, but also a highly aesthetic experience, where the architecture is able to engage in a dialogue with the cityscape.

The side chapels should be looked at inside, too, full of finely carved and gilded Baroque altars. These facts add an element of abundance to the Romanesque building that can be compared to the simplicity of the Romanesque building, which testifies to the development of artistic taste during the centuries. The elaborate decoration of the main altar turns into the visual and symbolical center of the sacred space.

Not only is Porto Cathedral a place of worship, it is also a living archive of the history of the city. It has been a witness of coronations, serious rites and decisive scenes in the life of the people. Even now it is a place of intersection of the past and the present, of faith and culture. Going to Porto Cathedral is to be engulfed in a tale of stone, light and silence, The voyage through the centuries, and leave the visitors with the feeling of reverence and amazement by how beauty and memory can be so enduring. You cannot pass over this dream place it will give you a great number of memorable feelings that will last forever.