Museums

1. Bolsa’s PalacePalácio da Bolsa

The Bolsa’s Palace is a neoclassical building, built on the ruins of a Franciscan convent destroyed by fire. Construction began in 1842 and the current building only opened in 1891.

It is the headquarters of the Commercial Association of Oporto and today serves for the most diverse cultural, social and political events in the city, being also possible to visit it at leisure.

The Arab Hall is the main attraction of the entire Palace due to its gold decoration with Arabic characters that spread across the walls and ceiling of the room. This is where official receptions for heads of state take place when visiting the city.

Also worth mentioning is the Pátio das Nações right at the entrance to the Palace, covered by a large glass structure, the Golden Room, the Portrait Room and the General Assembly Room made entirely of wood.

2. Infante's House

The Infante's House, located in the riverside area of Oporto, is traditionally considered the birthplace of Infante D. Henrique, the promoter of the Portuguese Discoveries. It was built in 1325, having served different purposes over time, such as the city's Customs and the Mint.

The Infante's House is classified as a National Monument, and since the 1980s, the Oporto Municipal Historical Archive has been located here, which preserves the city's documentation since the medieval period, a vast bibliography dedicated to the history of Oporto and an excellent collection of city plants .

In the 90s, as a result of a restoration of the building, traces of modern, medieval and Roman occupation were also found through archaeological excavations. The mosaic floors found in these excavations indicate that it was the home of a wealthy citizen in the Roman period.

Nowadays, on a visit to the site, it is possible to know the history of the city since the Roman occupation using multimedia applications and an interactive model that represents Medieval Oporto.

3. Soares dos Reis Museum

The Soares dos Reis Museum is installed in the Carrancas’ Palace, a building from the late 18th century that has undergone several adaptations for this new function. It was opened in 1942, becoming the oldest public art museum in Portugal.

It got its name in honor of the Oporto sculptor Soares dos Reis and most of the sculptor's works are part of the Museum's collection, perhaps the most emblematic work being the marble sculpture “O Desterrado”.

In 2001, under the program Oporto - European Capital of Culture, it underwent a major intervention, witnessing a revival of the Museum. New spaces were created, such as an auditorium, an educational department and temporary exhibition rooms, becoming a Museum with a regular activity of cultural animation. New reception areas, cafeteria, shop and infrastructures essential to the internal functioning were also created.

It is a museum of fine arts, decorative arts and archeology. The museum's collection has more than 13,000 pieces, 3000 of which correspond to drawing and painting works. The rest are distributed by collections of sculpture, engraving, decorative arts (furniture, porcelain, glass,jewelery, textiles) and archaeological collections.

4. Futebol Clube do Porto Museum

Opened in 2013, on the 120th anniversary of Futebol Clube do Porto, this Museum is located in Estádio do Dragão and brings together an accumulated of about 120 years of the club's life. Here you can get to know FC Porto from its origins to the evolution of the emblem, from the victories and hymns of the club to the outstanding figures in various modalities, including the dressing room where you will find the history of the equipment of the football teams.

The discovery of the club's history is a path that begins before entering the permanent exhibition area, extending over 27 thematic areas. Upon arriving at the Museum, you will be welcomed by the impact of the blue star that announces the space abroad, and by the reception area dominated by “Valquíria Dragão”, a work by the artist Joana Vasconcelos, in which more than 300 trophies and many other elements associated with FC Porto.

The Museu do Futebol Clube do Porto goes beyond the exhibition of cups (171 trophies on display), and provides the visitor with a sensitive and interactive experience through various audiovisual resources, with more than 200 videos showing the club's most remarkable moments.