Torre dos Clerigos

The Torre dos Clerigos, or Tower of the Clerics, is one of the sites not to be missed during a visit to the city of Porto and one of the symbols of this area. This monument, in fact, gives a 360-degree panorama of the entire city area. The Clerics’ Tower is part of a larger architectural complex that also includes the Church and the Brotherhood House, which has now become a museum.

Its origins date back to the mid-18th century when the Confraternity of Clerics requested the Italian architect Niccolò Nasoni (1691 – 1773) to build a bell tower for their church. Nasoni created a work in the Baroque style that was finished in 1763 with the affixing of an iron cross on the top of the Tower and the depiction of the image of St. Paul in the niche above the entrance door.

What to see in the Tower and Church of the Clerigos

The Torre dos Clerigos is an impressive 75 meters high and was built of granite stone along the westernmost end of the Brotherhood Church. Inside is a spiral staircase of 225 steps that allows visitors to reach the top of the tower and admire a breathtaking view of the city from up there. In 1917 two Spanish acrobats, the Puertullanos, climbed the Tower to its highest point, accomplishing a real record.

Next to the Tower stands the Church also built in the Baroque style by Niccolo Nasoni at the request of the Brotherhood of Clerics. Construction of the building began in 1732 and was completed in 1749. Externally, the church boasts a Baroque-style facade with a large central portal and lavish decorations. Inside are granite and marble ornaments and windows that allow light to enter and enhance the gilded carvings. The main chapel houses a marble altar and a Rococo-inspired altarpiece by Manuel dos Santos Porto.

The Brotherhood House was converted into a museum in the 2000s and now offers the opportunity to discover more about the style and lifestyle of 18th-century Porto. In particular, spaces once used for the daily life of the Brotherhood such as the Casa do Despacho, the Sala do Cofre, the chancery and the old infirmary have been reconstructed. However, the Museum also has a collection of valuable artifacts and works of art ranging from the 13th to the 20th century.

The Brotherhood’s infirmary was in operation until the late 1800s, while it is now an exhibition space that houses the Christus collection, which grew out of the donation of works by a private collector. Here are objects, works of painting, sculpture and goldsmithing that celebrate the encounter between faith and art.

Tickets and admission times for the Torre dos Clerigos

The cost of tickets to visit the Torre dos Clerigos is as follows:

• Full ticket with access to the Tower, Church and Museum: €6.00
• Inside ticket for the guided tour to the Tower, Church and Museum: €7.50
• Full ticket with evening ascent to the Tower (valid in the summer months from 19:00 to 23:00): €5.00
• Children under 10 years of age: free

The opening hours of the complex are: open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the last entry allowed 30 minutes before closing.

How to get to the Torre dos Clerigos

The Torre dos Cl erigos is located in the center of Porto and therefore can be easily reached on foot or by public transportation. From Porto Cathedral, the Tower can be reached in less than 10 minutes on foot via Dom Afonso Henriques Street. Those traveling by public transportation, however, may consider:

• Subway: Aliados or São Bento stops (line D).
• Streetcar: Carmo, line 22.
• Buses: lines 6, 20, 35, 37, 52 and 78.