Episcopal Palace (Palacio Episcopal do Porto) description and photos - Portugal: Porto (Topic)

Palacio Episcopal do Porto description and photos - Portugal: Porto. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The title in English is Palacio Episcopal do Porto.

Photo and description

The Episcopal Palace in Porto is the former seat of the bishops of Porto. The palace is located on a hill near the Porto Cathedral and is a prime example of how the late Baroque and Rococo styles were used in the architecture of the city.

The Episcopal Palace was built around the 12th or 13th century. In 1387, the palace witnessed the marriage of King Joao I and Philip of Lancaster. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the palace was significantly expanded, with towers being built, which was typical of the architecture used in the construction of mansions in Portugal at that time.

The way the palace looks today is the result of a fundamental reconstruction carried out in the 18th century, after which baroque features appeared in the building's architecture. It is assumed that the project of the Episcopal Palace was developed in 1734 by the Italian architect Nicola Nasoni, known for his work not only in Porto. Construction work began in 1737 but progressed very slowly and, due to financial difficulties, the building was scaled down. Work on the construction of the palace was completed towards the end of the 18th century under the leadership of Bishop Raphael de Mendonce, whose coat of arms is located at the top of the balcony in the main portal of the palace, and is also depicted on the monumental staircase inside the building.

The palace has a rectangular shape, in the center is the courtyard. The main facade of the building is painted white, the windows are arranged in three rows, and the central portal is made of dark granite. There is a staircase inside the building, which you can reach if you go through a long lobby.

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Topic: Episcopal Palace (Palacio Episcopal do Porto) description and photos - Portugal: Porto.