Palácio da Bolsa

The magnificent Palácio da Bolsa is a splendorous triumph of Neopalladian design. At the end of the Portuguese Civil War, the site of the old monastery of San Francisco was granted to Porto's merchants for the construction of a grand palace that would serve as the seat of the Commercial Association. Joaquim da Costa Lima Júnior was commissioned to undertake the task and construction began in 1842. While much of the neoclassical facade was completed by 1850, the lavish interior decor would take another six decades to achieve. The grandest of the Palácio da Bolsa's many ornate rooms is the Arabian Hall, an elaborate chamber replete with intricate stucco and gilded embellishments pertaining to Moorish influences. The Pátio das Nações is no less astounding with its gleaming octagonal dome and the painted Coat of Arms of Portugal's 19th-century, commercial allies. Guided tours of the Palácio da Bolsa are also offered.