Carmo and Carmelitas Churches

As you cross the square—named Lions’ Square due to its lovely fountain—you’ll soon discoverthe façade of one of Porto’s most fascinating places of worship! And here’s a surprise—what you’re looking at is actually two churches! The most famous is the one on your right, showcasing an elegant Baroque style with a side wall covered in light blue azulejos tiles. That’s the Carmo Church, joint to its neighbour the Carmelitas Church. In reality, they’re not really touching. If you pay close attention, you’ll see that there’s a narrow building in between them, almost unperceivable. Barely one meter wide, some say it’s the country’s narrowest house! Local guides like to call it the “Casa Escondida do Porto” or “Porto’s Hidden House”, one of the city’s true wonders. If you want to learn more about these premises, we must go back to the 17th century, at the time when the Carmelite nuns received royal permission to build a convent in Porto. The building was first finished in 1622, then the convent’s church a few years later. It’s the plainer one on your left, adorned with rounded arches hiding saint statues inside niches. Later, in the 18th century, the male branch of the Carmelite order came to Porto, but were obliged to build their own place of worship in accordance to monastic rules prohibiting any contact between monks and nuns. A small house was built beteween both religious buildings, and inside, either a monk or a gardian was appointed to make sure that both groups never meddled. It is now occupied by the National Republican Guard. If you’re interested, know that you can visit this small building during the Carmo Church tour. There’s an entry fee, but you’ll get to see the church’s rococo interior, the catacombs, and other spaces that the monks used. If you wish, take a moment to admire the exterior and take a quick look inside!