Church and Tower of the Clergymen, Porto (must see)

In Porto, one name keeps rising above the skyline—Nicolau Nasoni. This 18th-century Italian architect and painter left his mark all over Portugal, but nowhere more clearly than at the Church and Tower of the Clergymen—his most recognizable creation. And he didn’t stop there. Around the city, his work also shaped places like the Misericórdia Church, the Archbishop’s Palace, and even parts of Porto Cathedral.

The church itself reached completion in 1750, though Nasoni clearly wasn’t in a hurry to wrap things up. The bell tower and the dramatic split staircase out front only followed in 1763.

Pause for a second and take in the façade—it plays out like a Baroque stage set. Garlands, shells, curved lines, and that slightly theatrical pediment all come together in a design that feels both detailed and deliberate. Above the windows, you’ll spot carved symbols with spiritual meaning, while the sides reveal something unusual for the time: an elliptical nave, gently curving instead of following the typical straight layout.

In fact, this was one of the early Baroque churches to experiment with an elliptical floor plan, giving the interior a more dynamic, flowing space. Inside, the main chapel draws attention with a richly colored marble altarpiece, crafted by Manuel dos Santos Porto. It adds both weight and elegance to the otherwise balanced interior.

Then there’s the tower—the part everyone remembers. Built in a Roman Baroque style, inspired by Tuscan bell towers, it rises to about 75 meters, or 245 feet. If you’re feeling energetic, 240 steps will take you to the top. The climb is narrow, the turns are tight, but the reward is a sweeping view across Porto’s rooftops and the Douro River beyond. It’s no surprise the tower became one of the city’s defining symbols.

And Nasoni didn’t just design the place—he became part of it. During his lifetime, he joined the Clerigos Brotherhood, and when he died, he was buried inside the crypt of the very church he created. Not a bad way to stay permanently connected to your best work...