Portugal's Attractions: Igreja de São Bento da Vitória, Porto
Igreja e Convento de São Bento da Vitória
The Igreja de São Bento da Vitória and the Convento de São Bento da Vitória stand next to each other, close to São Bento Station in Porto.
The monastery (Convento) and adjacent church is classified as a National Monument.
Convento e Igreja de São Bento da Vitória History
The Convento de São Bento da Vitória is one of the oldest churches in Porto and dates from the 16th century. It was built in what was once the Jewish quarter of Olival.
The monastery was Benedictine with monks coming from the large headquarters of the Benedictine order in Portugal and Brazil at the Mosteiro de São Martinho de Tibães, a few kilometers west from the center of Braga.
As seemed customary in Portugal is took a long time to complete the monastery which was finally completed only in 1707. As a result the styles of architecture are mixed and include both Mannerist and Baroque.
The monastery was occupied by French troops during the Peninsular War (1807-1814) and later by Portuguese forces who used it as a hospital.
After the dissolution of Portugal's monastic orders in the 1830's the buildings were again used by the military as both a court and prison. This occupation has unfortunately resulted in considerable degradation to the original buildings.
The Church and Monastery of São Bento da Vitória were designed by the Portuguese royal architect Diogo Marques Lucas, a disciple of the Italian Filipe Terzio, who was responsible for the Igreja de São Vicente de Fora in Lisbon.
The carved altarpiece of the chancel, executed between 1716-19 and gilded between 1722-25, has been attributed to Gabriel Rodrigues.
The interiors are noted for their superb gilded woodwork with contributions by master carvers José da Fonseca Lima and José Martins Tinoco.
Long noted for its excellence in music, the monastery's main cloister was enclosed with an acoustic shell in 2001 and fitted with a wooden floor. The space now holds concerts and other events.
Convento e Igreja de São Bento da Vitória Access
Igreja de São Bento da Vitória
Rua de São Bento da Vitória
4050-543 Porto, Portugal
Tel: 22 340 1900
The Igreja de São Bento da Vitória and Convento de São Bento da Vitória are fairly close to São Bento Station on the Porto metro and mainline CP lines.
Rather confusingly there is also nearby the Church of Nossa Senhora da Vitória to the south.
Porto buses going to São Bento Station include the following: #500, #900, #901 and #906.
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