One of Porto’s most famous and unusual treasures is set to be displayed to the public once again at the Church of Lapa: the heart of King Pedro IV —preserved in formaldehyde in a glass container, housed in a gilded silver urn, and protected by a mahogany box. However, the date for this landmark event has not yet been announced.
According to information from the Porto City Council’s news portal, prior to the exhibition and as part of the preparations for the spaces that will host it, “it was determined that repair work was needed on the ceiling of the Portrait Gallery of the Brotherhood of Lapa.”
In addition, the work includes repairing and waterproofing that area and the resulting restoration of the ceiling, at an estimated total cost of 2,550 euros.”
A gift to the city that welcomed it
Known as Dom Pedro I in Brazil, where he led the country’s independence movement, and as Dom Pedro IV in Portugal, the monarch’s remains are buried in São Paulo —but his heart remained in Porto.
This was the way it found to express gratitude for the support that the city of Porto gave it during the Siege of Porto (1832–1833), one of the central episodes of the Liberal Wars. Since 1835, the relic has been kept at the Church of Lapa.
The last time it left the mausoleum
It should be recalled that the 2022 public exhibition at the Irmandade da Lapa, held in conjunction with the celebrations marking the 200th anniversary of Brazil’s independence, attracted thousands of people. This was followed by a 19-day trip to Brazil, where it was on display from August 25 to September 5 and viewed by approximately 8,000 people. Upon its return to Porto, the heart was displayed one last time on September 10 and 11 of that year, before a ceremony returned the relic to the Church of Lapa.
At the time, the then-mayor, Rui Moreira, acknowledged that the exhibition could become a regular event. Every five years, the heart must be removed from the vase to renew the preservative solution—a procedure that could also serve as a pretext for future exhibitions.
Don’t miss out! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and now on WhatsApp too !
