Capela das Almas (Chapel of Souls), Porto (must see)

Just when you think Santa Catarina Street has shown you all its cards, you arrive at the Chapel of Souls, standing quietly at the corner of Fernandes Tomás Street.

By the end of the 18th century, things were getting a bit crowded, so the Brotherhood of Souls packed up and moved here from the Monastery of Santa Clara. The addition of the Brotherhood swelled the size of the Santa Catarina faction of devotees to the point where a new building was needed. So, in 1801, the chapel was expanded and restored, giving the growing community a space that could finally keep up.

Now, take a moment to look at the façade. It’s neat, balanced, and very much in line with neoclassical taste. There’s a framed doorway topped by a circular pediment, and just above it, a coat of arms featuring Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine—your clue about who this place is dedicated to. The bell tower rises in two levels: a door and window below, then four windows and a balcony above, all crowned by a dome with a simple iron cross. Elegant, but not overly dramatic—at least at first glance...

And then the tiles take over.

The entire exterior is wrapped in around 16,000 blue-and-white azulejo tiles, produced by the Viuva Lamego workshop in Lisbon. And these aren’t just decorative patterns—they tell stories. Scenes from the lives of Saint Catherine and Saint Francis unfold across the walls like a giant ceramic narrative. It’s the kind of façade that stops people mid-step, whether they planned to visit or not.

Once inside, the tone shifts. The stained glass windows by Amandio Silva cast a softer light, illustrating souls in Purgatory being redeemed. There’s an 18th-century image of the Virgin of Souls, and on the main altar, a large painting of “The Ascension of the Lord” by Joaquin Rafael, a Fine Arts professor from Lisbon. It’s quieter, more reflective—less spectacle, more atmosphere...

And yes, people often say this is the most beautiful church in Porto. That’s a bold claim in a city full of churches—but once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to argue.