Sights of Porto. Sao Bento Train Station

01. The first train arrived at Sao Bento station on November 7, 1896. At that time, the station consisted of three wooden hangars, which served both passengers and owners of numerous cargoes, as a storage facility. It must be said that it was certainly far from the people of Lisbon, who by that time had not one, but two train stations, one of which, Santa Apolonia, had been serving passengers for more than 30 years. And as happens between two major cities of the country, be it Moscow and St. Petersburg, or Lisbon and Porto, competition drove progress. Four years later, the first stone was laid in the foundation of a new stone building-palace, São Bento Station. Sixteen years later, the magnificent building appeared in all its beauty.

02. There is something to see! 551 square meters of famous Portuguese tiles (azulejos) not only decorate the building, but also tell the story of significant events in the history of the country.

04. If you look closely, you can see scenes from the daily life of Portuguese peasants,

06. not devoid of drama...

07.Majestic scenes of loyalty to his word, the famous fighter for the independence of Portugal, knight Egas Moniz.

08. All this beauty belongs to the pen of the famous Portuguese artist Jorge Kulas.

11. And here is Henry the Navigator himself, who led the Battle of Ceuta (August 14, 1415) in Morocco. This event is associated with the beginning of the era of European expansion on the world stage.

12. I look at, photograph and read a brief history of the depicted paintings on my phone. Comfortable.

13. However, let's return to modern times.

14. Sao Bento Station serves mainly local, suburban destinations: Braga, Aveiro, Douro and other cities located mainly around Porto at a distance not exceeding 60 km. Trains to Lisbon run from another Porto station, Campanhã. But that's a completely different story.

15. Destinations are served by modern electric trains of the UME-3400 series, built at the enterprises of the Siemens TS/Bombardier alliance, especially for the state railway company Comboios de Portugal (CP).

16. It was not an easy decision to build a station in the very center of the city, which is almost 1000 years old.

17. In 1968, the station with adjacent buildings and tracks was seriously reconstructed. There were new premises for passengers, a restaurant, and all tracks were electrified.

22. If you are in Porto, take a look, it’s an interesting place.

23. However, time is running out, how much more interesting and educational this amazing city of Porto conceals!

Are you tired of Porto yet?) I would also like to tell you about the most beautiful area of ​​the city - the Dora River embankment, and about the most comfortable metro on the planet.
Two weeks ago I was in Rome, yesterday I returned from Budapest. There are many, many interesting things ahead!

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Sao Bento Train Station, located in the center, is not only an important transport hub of the city, but also a memorable historical and architectural site. It was officially opened to passengers in 1916, on the site of an abandoned monastery, becoming one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe, maintaining this unofficial status to this day. It is interesting that the first train stopped at its platform in November 1896, when the station consisted of only 3 wooden hangars, used as warehouses. However, after 20 years, instead of them, a new three-story building appeared in Porto, capable of competing with a similar structure in the capital Lisbon.

The main attraction of the São Bento railway station is its lobby, the walls are lined with the famous Portuguese azulejos tiles, which depict fragments from the history of Portugal, including magnificent paintings telling about the legendary Battle of Valdevez, the arrival of King John I with his wife Philippa of Lancaster in Porto in 1387, about the achievements of Henry the Navigator and the exploits of the national hero - knight Egas Moniz. The author of these magnificent works of art was the Portuguese artist Jorge Kulasu. Looking at the master’s paintings, it’s hard to believe that they are not in the halls of the National Museum of Portugal, but at the central city station. The building has long attracted great attention from foreign tourists, who, when coming here, invariably arrange a colorful photo shoot.

Sao Bento Station mainly serves local and suburban routes, and trains depart to populated areas, the road to which does not exceed 60 km. They go to Lisbon from another station. All routes are served by modern electric trains of the UME-3400 series, which are distinguished by a decent level of comfort and high functionality. For the convenience of passengers, almost every section of the station is equipped with a clock and electronic displays displaying the current schedule. Also, on the station territory there are cafes, restaurants and toilets. To make the platforms light enough and at the same time cozy even on rainy days, glass roofs were built over them.

The Sao Bento railway station is deservedly one of the most striking attractions, representing a real work of art. In a certain sense, it is a free museum in which one can appreciate the rich cultural heritage. Rising in the central part of the city, the station harmoniously fits into the historical image of Porto and can decorate the home photo gallery of any traveler.

The Portuguese Parliament meets in the São Bento Palace, originally built as a monastery for Benedictine monks. Behind the monumental neoclassical facade are magnificent rooms decorated with sculptures and paintings. In 1598, the Benedictines began building a new monastery to accommodate their rapidly growing community. São Bento da Saude was designed as a large rectangular structure located around four monasteries. In 1834, when religious orders were abolished, the government confiscated the property and installed the Portuguese Parliament here.

The building quickly adapted to its new function, but after a fire in 1895 it suffered significant damage. It was decided to carry out a major restoration and restore the building. The neoclassical design of Ventura Terra was chosen and in the following decades the original monastery was completely converted into a parliamentary building. Today little remains of the classical 16th-century monastery, but one of the original four monasteries remains. However, it is one of Lisbon's most outstanding landmarks.

Exterior of the Palace of Sao Bento

The most impressive aspect of the São Bento Palace is its monumental neoclassical façade. The large central portico has five porches topped by a balcony with thirteen Corinthian columns that support a thirty-meter wide pediment. The reliefs on the tympanum were created by the Portuguese sculptor Simoes de Almeida. The central allegorical figure represents the homeland and is surrounded by eighteen different statues, symbolizing the different foundations of society.

Two lions sculpted by Raoul Xavier guard the wide staircase leading to the main entrance of the palace. In front of the entrance are four marble statues representing Prudence, Justice, Strength and Patience.

Interior of the Palace of Sao Bento

Passing through the portico, you enter the main atrium, formerly located in the chapel. It is decorated with busts of prominent Portuguese parliamentarians. The passages on the left side lead to the main staircase of the palace, built between 1936 and 1937.

The largest and most luxurious rooms in the São Bento Palace are located on both sides of the atrium. These are the Senate and Parliamentary chambers. The Senate Chamber was built in 1867 according to the design of the French architect Jean-François Colson. The semi-circular hall with a glass and iron skylight has two balconies supported by colossal columns. The Houses of Parliament opened in 1903 after the original hall was destroyed by fire in 1895. The semicircular hall is decorated with large sculptures and a huge lute painted by Veloso Salgado.

Sao Bento Gardens

Behind the palace is the French-style garden of the São Bento Palace, with geometrically arranged flower beds laid out on a terraced slope. The garden is decorated with fountains, niches and sphinx statues.