Relation Jail Building or Porto Relation Court

Category: Civil Architecture > Jail

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Centro Histórico

Location

The Cadeia da Relação Building or Porto Court of Appeal is located in the city of Porto, in the parish of Vitória. This building is a historical and cultural landmark, with great importance in the judicial and prison history of the city.

History and Origin

The Porto Court of Appeal was created in 1582, but initially did not have its own building, having operated in various locations. Only in 1765 did the construction of the current version of the building begin, on the rubble of a previous structure that had collapsed in 1752.

Architecture and Construction

The current building began to be erected in 1765, and construction took about 30 years to complete. It was designed by the architect Eugénio dos Santos, famous for working on the reconstruction of Lisbon after the 1755 earthquake. After his death, the work was completed by the engineer Francisco Pinheiro da Cunha.

Historical Function

For many years, the building had two main functions: it served as a court and a prison. It was known for its "enxovias" (prison cells), which had the names of saints and were divided by gender and age. Many important prisoners passed through here, such as Camilo Castelo Branco, accused of adultery, and other political prisoners and figures of prominence.

Camilo Castelo Branco

One of the most famous prisoners was the writer Camilo Castelo Branco, who was imprisoned here in 1860, along with Ana Plácido, his lover. The cell where Camilo was imprisoned can be visited in the building.

Transformation and Current Use

In 1974, the Cadeia da Relação was closed as a prison, and the building suffered a period of abandonment. In 1997, after a renovation process, it was transformed into the Portuguese Center of Photography (CPF), where photography exhibitions are currently held. The renovation project was led by architects Eduardo Souto Moura and Humberto Vieira.

Tourist Attraction

Today, the building is a point of tourist interest because of its imposing architecture, its history as a court and prison, and the photography exhibitions. Visitors can learn about the history of the site, visit the old cells, and appreciate the photographic displays that take place there.

Curiosity

The architecture preserves many elements from the time when it functioned as a court and prison, allowing visitors a journey through time. The cell where Camilo Castelo Branco was imprisoned is one of the main attractions for admirers of the writer.

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

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