Clérigos Church 🇵🇹

When you visit Porto, Portugal, you cannot miss the Clérigos Church (Igreja dos Clérigos), an 18th-century Baroque masterpiece designed by Italian architect and painter Nicolau Nasoni for the Brotherhood of the Clergy. Construction began in 1732, creating one of Portugal’s earliest Baroque churches to feature an elliptic floorplan. Outside, you will see a heavily decorated main façade featuring garlands, shells, an indented broken pediment based on a Roman scheme, and a central frieze displaying worship symbols and an incense boat.

Step inside to admire the main chapel's striking polychromed marble altarpiece, crafted by Manuel dos Santos Porto. At the back stands the famous Torre dos Clérigos, a monumental 75.6-meter-tall bell tower inspired by Tuscan campaniles and Roman Baroque design. Climbing its 240 steps across six floors rewards you with a landmark experience at a structure that dominates the city skyline and serves as an iconic symbol of Porto.

You can also appreciate the history of Nasoni himself, who joined the brotherhood and was buried in the church's crypt. For a memorable experience, you can even visit during nighttime hours to explore this historic treasure after dark.

What to see at Clérigos Church

• The 75.6-meter bell tower featuring 240 steps across six floors
• Distinctive Baroque elliptic floorplan, one of the first in Portugal
• Polychromed marble altarpiece crafted by Manuel dos Santos Porto
• Intricate main façade decorated with garlands, shells, and an incense boat frieze
• Crypt resting place of renowned Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni

Visiting tips

Consider visiting during nighttime hours to experience this iconic Portuguese landmark after dark.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Nighttime

How to get there & what’s nearby

Clérigos Church is easy to reach on Porto’s public transport, and pairs naturally with Casa da Música and Porto Cathedral. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Porto travel guide.