Clérigos Tower and Church

Clérigos Tower and Church form a baroque complex in Porto, built from granite and displaying religious motifs and ornamentation from the 18th century. The tower rises above the church and is accessed through a narrow spiral staircase that winds upward inside.

Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni began construction in 1732 and completed the complex in 1763 for the Brotherhood of Clerics. The tower was added as the final element and has shaped the old town skyline ever since.

The name comes from the Brotherhood of Clerics, who commissioned the complex and held services for priests without fixed parishes. Visitors often notice the close bond between church and tower, which serves as a city landmark and appears on postcards.

The spiral staircase inside leads up 225 steps to the viewing platform and requires a reasonable fitness level for the climb. Once at the top, you look over the old town rooftops toward the Douro River and the Atlantic coast.

In 1917, Spanish acrobats called the Puertullanos climbed the outside of the tower and drew a large crowd of onlookers. This daring performance became an event that occupied the city for a long time afterward.

Location: Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória

Inception: 1763

Architects: Nicolau Nasoni

Architectural style: baroque architecture

Height: 75.6 m

Address: Rua de São Filipe Nery, Rua da Assunção

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:00-19:00; December 24 09:00-14:00; December 31 09:00-14:00; December 25 11:00-19:00; January 01 11:00-19:00

Phone: +351220145489

Website: http://torredosclerigos.pt/en

GPS coordinates: 41.14565,-8.61464

Latest update: December 6, 2025 11:00