Church of Saint Ildefonso, Catholic church in Porto, Portugal.
Description
Church of Saint Ildefonso is a granite church with two bell towers topped by stone crosses featuring an elongated octagonal layout. The building stands near Batalha Square and combines solid stone construction with baroque architectural details.
History
Construction of the current building began in 1709 following the demolition of an older chapel, with the main structure completed by 1739. This transformation from a smaller chapel to a larger building reflected the growth of the local community during that period.
Culture
The church displays 11,000 blue and white azulejo tiles created in 1932 by Jorge Colaco depicting scenes from Saint Ildefonso's life. These tiles cover the interior walls and tell the saint's story through visual imagery that visitors encounter throughout the space.
Practical
The building welcomes visitors daily during specific hours, with afternoon sessions Monday through Saturday and morning hours on Sunday. It is advisable to check beforehand if special times apply for tourists, as regular masses occur throughout the week.
Did you know?
The interior houses a preserved pipe organ from 1811 with intricate mechanical components that is occasionally played during special occasions. Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni also designed the altarpiece, leaving his artistic mark on the space's interior appearance.
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Porto, city in the north of Portugal, gives many reasons to stop here. You can see historic bridges that make the city known. Explore old churches and visit museums with interesting collections. The city also hides lesser-known places that are just as charming, from the Douro River crossing the city...
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