Description of the attraction
The Episcopal Palace in Porto is the former seat of the bishops of Porto. The palace is located on a hill near the Porto Cathedral and is a prime example of how the late Baroque and Rococo styles were used in the architecture of the city.
The Episcopal Palace was built around the 12th or 13th century. In 1387, the palace witnessed the marriage of King João I and Philip of Lancaster. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the palace was significantly expanded, with structures with towers, which was typical of the architecture that was used in the construction of mansions in Portugal at that time.
The way the palace looks today is the result of a fundamental reconstruction carried out in the 18th century, after which baroque features appeared in the architecture of the building. It is assumed that the project of the Episcopal Palace was developed in 1734 by the Italian architect Nicola Nasoni, known for his works not only in Porto. Construction work began in 1737, but it progressed very slowly, and due to financial difficulties, the building was scaled down. Work on the construction of the palace was completed towards the end of the 18th century under the leadership of Bishop Raphael de Mendonce, whose coat of arms is located at the top of the balcony in the main portal of the palace, and is also depicted on the monumental staircase inside the building.
The palace has a rectangular shape with an inner courtyard in the center. The main facade of the building is painted white, the windows are arranged in three rows, and the central portal is made of dark granite. There is a staircase inside the building, which you can reach if you go through a long lobby. A staircase leads to a baroque portal.
The building was used as the seat of bishops until the 19th century.
