Mermaids Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Centro Histórico

Location

Located in the heart of Porto's Historic Centre, the Palace of the Mermaids stands on an elevated platform on Rua da Bandeirinha. This strategic position offers a privileged perspective over the Miragaia area, the winding Douro River, and the imposing Alfândega Nova do Porto. The area in front of the palace widens, transforming into a point where the view of the river landscape is revealed broadly and invitingly.

The imposing nature of the building stands out in the urban fabric, cornering on Rua da Bandeirinha and presenting its western side façade aligned with Rua do Monte dos Judeus. To the north, a courtyard culminates in a portal that serves as a visual closure to Largo do Viriato, integrating the palace into a discovery route through the old city.

Architecture and Sculpture

The Palace of the Mermaids is a remarkable example of 18th-century stately architecture, combining elements of Baroque and Rococo styles. Its main façade, south-facing, is marked by notable symmetry, with two crenellated turrets at the ends that evoke a fortification. Pilasters at the quoins and along the attics contribute to its verticality and grandeur.

The most distinctive element, and the one that gives the palace its name, is its entrance portal, flanked by two impressive granite sculptures, similar to caryatids, representing mermaids. Above these mythical figures, a set of large windows with a balustrade and an upper balcony, supported by carved stonework corbels, display profuse Rococo motifs, culminating in a curved pediment. At the rear, a courtyard reveals an imposing, richly worked granite portal, featuring a coat of arms of the former owning family, the Portocarrero, Osórios, Cunhas, and Coutinhos.

Historical Notes

The history of the Palace of the Mermaids dates back to the mid-18th century, having been built on a site of particular relevance: the old cemetery of Porto's Jews. Initially conceived as a residence for a noble family, the palace witnessed significant moments in Porto's history.

In the early 19th century, in 1809, it was owned by João da Cunha Portocarrero. After periods of abandonment, the property was acquired in 1955 by the Canossian Missionary Daughters of Charity, who established the religious college "Casa Madalena de Canosa" in the building. This change of use marked a new chapter in the palace's life, preserving its structure and relevance in Porto's urban landscape.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt