In June 1860, Ana Plácido was arrested on charges of adultery: she was married—but not to Camilo Castelo Branco. On October 1, the writer, then 35 years old, turned himself in to the authorities and was sent to the Cadeia da Relação prison in Porto. She was held in the women’s wing; he was placed on a floor reserved for wealthier prisoners. It was not until October 1861 that the two were tried and acquitted, according to the University of Porto.
It was within those walls that Camilo wrote *Amor de Perdição* in just 15 days. The novel, considered his masterpiece, has its roots in a family drama involving the author. His experience in prison would also inspire another book, *Memórias do Cárcere* (*Memoirs of Prison*), in which he recounted what he saw and heard from the other prisoners.
From Camilo’s Cell to the Portuguese Center for Photography
While prisoners without money were held in the dark, overcrowded cells, Camilo was entitled to one of the “Malta rooms” on the upper floor. The conditions of the building were such that King Pedro V, after visiting it, is said to have remarked that the prison needed to be “completely demolished.” It was not: the Cadeia da Relação, built in the final years of the 18th century, continued to house prisoners until 1974. The famous highwayman Zé do Telhado was also imprisoned there.
Today, the building—designated a national monument—is home to the Portuguese Center for Photography, founded in 1997. In addition to the exhibitions, a visit allows you to see the cell where Camilo was imprisoned and take in a view of the city from above, according to the official website. And the address couldn’t be more fitting: Largo Amor de Perdição.
A movie to watch before or after your visit
The story of Camilo and Ana Plácido in prison hit movie theaters on October 22. “Memórias do Cárcere,” directed by Sérgio Graciano and starring Albano Jerónimo and Maria João Bastos in the lead roles, premiered in more than 30 theaters, according to Jornal Económico, citing Lusa.
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