Located in the heart of Old Porto, on a street of the same name, the São Bento da Vitória Monastery reopens to the public this Thursday, October 1, following the completion of renovation work that involved an investment of 4.85 million euros under the PRR Cultura program.
The project focused on enhancing the built heritage, improving safety and sustainability, boosting energy efficiency, and enhancing working conditions and visitor amenities.
A reopening wouldn’t be complete without a celebration. The “Back to the Monastery” program spans four days and features concerts, dramatic readings, performances, and an official ceremony.
What’s happening each day
October 1, at 7:00 p.m.
The first concert of the 6th MUSICAL-MENTE series takes place, dedicated this year to literary preludes—featuring works by Beethoven, Janáček, and Tolstoy centered on “The Kreutzer Sonata.”
October 2, at 7:00 p.m.
The following day, at the same time, the Documentation Center will host a special session of “Readings at the Monastery ” featuring a reading of Frank Wedekind’s *Spring Awakening*.
October 3, starting at 4:30 p.m.
The “My Center Is Not in the Solar System” series, under the artistic direction of Celina Brás and curated by Alexandra Balona, presents three performances by Palestinian and Lebanese artists starting at 4:30 p.m.: “I Killed the Bird” by Shahd Wadi; “Nothing Will Remain Other Than the Thorn Lodged in the Throat of This World,” by Noor Abed and Haig Aivazian; and “The Book of Mud,” by Ali Cherri. The program offers a critical reflection on Eurocentric historicities and hegemonic narratives.
October 4, at 4:00 p.m.
The official reopening ceremony will take place, which includes the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Orquestra XXI—a project that brings together Portuguese musicians living abroad and which will become a resident ensemble at the Monastery over the next two years.
At 7:00 p.m., the Soloists of Orquestra XXI will make their debut at the venue with Morton Feldman’s “Crippled Symmetry,” in a concert marking the centennial of the American composer’s birth (1926–87).
A New Life for the Former Courtroom
The reopening also marks a new phase in the monument’s history : the former Courtroom has been repurposed as a contemporary performance space, equipped with technical facilities for artistic creation and presentation. A revised version of the set design exhibition is also being inaugurated, now renamed “Nine Stage Rooms,” reaffirming the Monastery as a place of memory for the city.
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