Clérigos Tower, Museum and Church

What the CN tower is to Toronto, the Clérigos Tower is to Porto: a 76m (250’) church tower built on the highest hill in Porto. It is by far the most recognizable landmark of the city and people can climb to the top. So did we?
Of course! And the views were great.

The Clérigos Tower opened its doors in 1763, becoming the highest bell tower of Portugal. In 1753 the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni was invited to design and build this magnificent building, which has been a National Monument since 1910.

The beautiful Baroque church was built in the eighteenth century, between 1732 and 1749. We admired the religious pieces from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century - the paintings, furniture, jewellery and vestment collections. The Christus collection, on the 3 floor, is a “trip through time and space where art and religion blend into each other”.

There are two beautiful, gold organs in the church. They continue to function perfectly, despite being more than 200 years old.

They were made by the Spanish organ builder Dom Sebastião de Acunha and like the building in which they are in, are a example of the Baroque style during the late eighteenth century.

A few years ago, there was a daily half hour concert with the organs at noon. We were there at noon but no music ... We would have loved to have heard those antique instruments.Read more