Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar

The Serra do Pilar monastery stands on the Gaia side of the Douro directly above the Dom Luís I bridge, and it is architecturally unusual: both its church and its cloister are circular, a plan almost unique in Portugal, built from 1538 to the end of the 17th century for the Augustinians. Its position made it a fortress repeatedly - Wellington's forces used it in 1809 to observe the French across the river before crossing, and it was a key position again in the 1832 siege during the civil war, when it was heavily damaged. It is still partly held by the army. The terrace outside is what most people come for: the standard photograph of Porto, with the double-deck bridge in the foreground, the Ribeira houses stacked on the far bank, the port lodges below and the river running west. It is UNESCO-listed as part of the Porto historic centre.

History

In 1527 John III ordered a larger house for the Augustinian monks of the decaying Monastery of Grijó, and the first monastery on the hill was begun in 1538 and finished in 1564, its cloisters in 1583; it soon proved too small, a new church was begun in 1597, the circular church was inaugurated on 17 July 1672, and the last phases were done by the end of the 17th century. In the Peninsular War General Arthur Wellesley used it to launch his surprise attack on the French across the Douro and retake Porto, in the Siege of Porto it was the only Liberal stronghold on the south bank, and it was fortified through the 19th century. It was declared a National Monument in 1910, rebuilding of the parts wrecked by successive wars began in 1927, part of the grounds became a military barracks in 1947, and in 1996 it was included in the World Heritage Site of Porto's historic centre (Wikipedia, Monastery of Serra do Pilar).

What to look for

• The circular church and cloister - a round plan almost unique in Portugal.
• The terrace view - the Dom Luís bridge, the Ribeira and the Douro in one frame.
• The military history - a position used by Wellington in 1809 and besieged in 1832.
• The build from 1538 to 1672 - an Augustinian house that took over a century.

When to go

Year-round. One hour. Sunset is the crowded time on the terrace; morning gives better light on the Ribeira opposite.

Good to know

The terrace is free but the church and cloister are ticketed and keep limited hours, closing on some days. Part of the complex is army property and closed. The terrace is packed at sunset with buskers and sellers. Walking the bridge's upper deck means sharing it with the metro.

Nearby

The Gaia port lodges are below; the Ribeira is across the bridge.

Key facts