Igreja de Santo Ildefonso

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, Porto

The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso situated close to Batalha Square, dates back to the 18th century. The church was completed in 1739 and includes a framed altarpiece by the prolific Italian architect, Nicolau Nasoni. Nasoni's work can be found over over Porto including the Torre dos Clerigos, Porto Cathedral and the Igreja de Santa Marinha in Vila Nova de Gaia.

The church was completed in 1739 with an altarpiece by Nicolau Nasoni. — The church was completed in 1739 with an altarpiece by Nicolau Nasoni

History

The granite church, in Baroque style, was 30 years in construction and is named after an early, 7th century Bishop of Toledo, Ildephonsus.

The Igreja de Santo Ildefonso stands on a slight incline and has a striking façade of over 11,000 classic blue and white azulejos, added in 1932 by Jorge Colaço, depicting the life of Saint Ildefonso and stories from the Gospels. Jorge Colaço was also responsible for the tile work on other churches in Porto including the Igreja dos Congregados, near Sao Bento Station.

The church also has some beautiful stained glass windows and a pipe organ dating from 1811.

The two bell towers are topped with stone crosses, masonry spheres and flag poles with flags of Portugal.

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, Porto, Portugal. — Igreja de Santo Ildefonso, Porto

Access

Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
Praça da Batalha
4000-101 Porto
Tel: 222 004 366

Admission: free for the church; a daily mass is held.

Nearby

The nearby Praça da Batalha has a number of hotels, restaurants and cafes. The Porto tram and a number of buses run through the square. Hotels include the 4-star Hotel Mercure Porto Centro, the 3-star Hotel Quality Inn Praca da Batalha Porto and the 2-star Hotel B&B Porto Centro.

The square is also home to the São João National Theatre and the art-deco Cinema Batalha.

The mostly pedestrianized square does attract a number of homeless people in the evenings but is safe enough with lots of people passing through the busy area.