Solar do Conde de Bolhão, Palace in Cedofeita, Porto, Portugal
The Solar do Conde de Bolhão is a 19th-century palace in the Cedofeita district of Porto, Portugal, classified as a Monument of Public Interest. The building on Rua Formosa presents an eclectic facade with carved stone details around its windows and doors, and its interiors feature marble work, plasterwork, painted surfaces, and woodwork.
The palace was built in the 19th century on the orders of António de Guimarães, the Count of Bolhão, and served as a venue for social gatherings among Porto's wealthy class. In 2010 it was formally recognized as a Monument of Public Interest, after which it was restored and expanded to take on a new role.
The building now houses the Academia Contemporânea do Espetáculo, a school and theatre company. Passing visitors sometimes catch rehearsals or performances spilling into the common spaces, giving the old residence a very active daily life.
The building sits on Rua Formosa between numbers 342 and 346, in an area well connected by public transit including a nearby metro station and the S. Bento train station a short walk away. Guided tours are offered on weekends by volunteers, though the facade can be seen from the street at any time.
Special tours for blind visitors are offered without reservation, letting people experience the space through touch and sound up to a group of 30. Photography is also allowed inside, which is unusual for a building of this type.
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