Casa do Infante, Medieval museum and archaeological site in Ribeira, Porto, Portugal
Museu Municipal Casa do Infante is a public building, museum, and archaeological site in the Ribeira neighborhood of Porto. The interior holds visible remains from different periods, including floors, walls, and objects uncovered during excavations carried out on the site.
The building was erected in 1325 under King Afonso IV to serve as a customs house and mint, making it one of the oldest civic structures in Porto. Over the centuries its role changed several times before it was eventually turned into a museum.
The museum sits in one of the oldest corners of Porto, where narrow lanes run down toward the Douro River. The building itself, once a place of trade and royal administration, still carries that sense of public life at its core.
The museum is in the Ribeira area, reachable on foot through steep and narrow streets typical of Porto's old town. Inside, the space is spread across different levels, so comfortable shoes are a good idea before visiting.
Although the building dates from the 14th century, it rests on Roman foundations uncovered during excavations in the 1990s. Among the finds are mosaic floors that remain visible beneath the museum floor today.
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