S茫o Bento Railway Station, Porto

S茫o Bento Railway Station, a 20th-century railway terminal located in the parish of Cedofeita, Porto, stands as a prominent example of Beaux-Arts architecture within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Historic Centre of Porto. Named after Saint Benedict, the station occupies the site of the former Benedictine Convent of S茫o Bento da Av茅 Maria, which was demolished in 1892 to make way for this grand transportation hub.

The idea for a central station in Porto began in 1864, but formal plans by Jos茅 Maria Ferreira and Ant贸nio J煤lio Machado, with designs by Hippolyte de Bare, emerged in 1887. Construction started in 1890, with a tunnel finished by 1893, and the first train arrived in 1896. A landslide in 1897 caused delays, but architect Jos茅 Marques da Silva, inspired by French Beaux-Arts, was hired in 1899. The construction began in 1904, and the station was completed over 13 years.

The station's design is marked by a symmetrical, U-shaped, three-story granite structure with its principal facade facing southwest. The central body, flanked by two volumes, features strong architrave cornices and repetitive geometric patterns. Its robust frame and decorative elements maintain a harmonious balance of form and function, consistent with the Beaux-Arts style.

S茫o Bento is renowned for its extensive azulejo tiles by artist Jorge Cola莽o, covering 551 square meters with around twenty thousand tiles that depict key moments in Portugal's history and regional traditions. The tiles are framed by pilasters and granite, with friezes illustrating transportation evolution, adding to the station's grandeur. Declared a national monument in 1988, S茫o Bento has been restored since 1992 to preserve its architecture, and part of it now serves as "The Passenger Hostel," blending historic charm with modern use.

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Sight Name: S茫o Bento Railway Station
Sight Location: Porto, Portugal (See walking tours in Porto)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Porto Historic Center Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Porto, Portugal

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Creating your own self-guided walk in Porto is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

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Travel Distance: 3.2 Km or 2 Miles

Porto Historic Center Walking Tour

The Historic Centre of Porto, dating back to the Medieval times, is the oldest part of the city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. Despite all the changes over the years, it has maintained the unique urban characteristics, which are a world apart from other European cities, and preserved much of its legacy from the times gone by.

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
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Shopping and Food Tour

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Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
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Where To Stay in Porto, Portugal - Guide of Best Areas and Hotels

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