Stock Exchange Palace or Commercial Association of Porto Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Baixa do Porto

Location

Located in the parish of São Nicolau, in Porto, it is one of the city's most emblematic tourist attractions.

History

Construction began in October 1842, after the closure of the old Stock Exchange. For some time, merchants conducted their transactions outdoors on Rua dos Ingleses.

Architecture

The building combines various styles, such as 19th-century neoclassical and elements of Tuscan and Neo-Palladian architecture. The interior is richly decorated, with gold detailing.

Current Function

Currently, the Palácio da Bolsa is the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association and is used for cultural, social, and political events.

Arab Room

This hall is the most famous in the palace, with 19th-century stuccoes and gold detailing with Arabic characters. It is here that tributes are paid to heads of state who visit the city.

Hall of Portraits

In this room, a table crafted by the wood carver Zeferino José Pinto stands out. It took three years to complete and is recognized in international exhibitions.

Visits

The Palácio da Bolsa offers paid guided tours and is one of the most visited places in Porto, attracting tourists from all over the world. In 2014, it received more than 250,000 visitors, with a large number of tourists from countries such as France, Spain, Germany, and Brazil.

Photographs

The palace has several areas of interest, such as the Pátio das Nações (Hall of Nations), the Library, the Sala Dourada (Golden Room), the Sala do Tribunal (Courtroom), and the Sala das Assembleias Gerais (General Assembly Room).

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palácio_da_Bolsa

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