Porto has a centuries-old history, full of monuments that bear witness to the passing of time. But the richness of its art goes beyond the walls of churches, museums and even cemeteries. All over the city, different statues embellish various nooks and crannies.
Some are a kind of memorial or tribute to figures from the past. Others stand out for their contemporaneity and even peculiarities. Some of these forms of public art have caused (and continue to cause) controversy, while others have taken a long time to find a home.
Faced with such a multifaceted and rich scene, not only in terms of the beauty of the sculptures, but also in terms of the narrative itself, we present a brief itinerary for locals and tourists. After all, it’s possible to enjoy art for free, without emptying your wallet and still take a few photos to remember it by later.
Table Of Contents
Monument to the Heroes of the Peninsular War
Installed in the center of Praça de Mouzinho de Albuquerque, better known as the Rotunda da Boavista, the Monument to the Heroes of the Peninsular War is an irreproachable work of art in the city.
As its name suggests, it is a reference to a warlike period in Portuguese history, specifically the Napoleonic invasions at the beginning of the 19th century.
With a truly monumental look, this statue has a peculiar curiosity. It took over 40 years to be built, with the first stones being laid in 1909 and the inauguration only taking place in 1952.
📍Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square
Statue of Vímara Peres
Before you reach Porto Cathedral, you’ll find one of the city’s most emblematic statues. But do you know which figure is represented? It’s a tribute to Vímara Peres, a nobleman of Galician origin who, in 869, definitively expelled the Muslims from the town of Portucale (Porto).
An essential figure in the very foundation of the county and, inherently, of Portuguese identity, the first Count of Portucale was immortalized in this work by Salvador Barata Feyo (1968). So, if you were unaware of this fact, the next time you pass by, take the opportunity to take a closer look at this piece of history.
📍Calçada de Vandoma, next to the Porto Cathedral
Amor de Perdição”statue
This is probably one of the works that has caused the most controversy in the city of Porto. Not long ago, the possibility of it being removed from its current location in Largo Amor de Perdição was discussed.
An allusion to Camilo Castelo Branco, one of the most famous authors in Portuguese literature, the sculpture created by Francisco Simões was criticized for showing the writer embracing a naked woman.
The Ribeira Cube
Like the tribute to Camilo Castelo Branco, this minimalist cube was also the subject of controversy shortly after its construction in the early 80s.
Designed by sculptor José Rodrigues, one of the aims was to bring some modernism to Porto’s artworks and statues.
Designed with 600 kg of bronze on two faces measuring two meters by two meters, it is now one of the landmarks of the Ribeira area.
📍Ribeira Square
O Porto” statue
After the historical representations and even the controversies, now it’s time to talk about one of the statues that has moved more times than many people have moved house. Although it sounds like a joke, the truth is that “O Porto” has been an (almost) itinerant piece for far too long.
More than 200 years old, the “O Porto” statue has been to various places, such as Praça da Liberdade, the Crystal Palace Gardens and the Fernandina Wall, among others. However, since the beginning of this year, it seems to have finally found ‘rest’ when it was reinstalled in front of the Old Town Hall in Terreiro da Sé.
📍Front of the Old Town Hall
