Authentication

User ID:

Password:

Iniciar sessão

U.Porto Memory

Rectory Building of the U.Porto - Background: reference works

Santo António Hospital (National Monument)

The Hospital of Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto was built in the Cordoaria, during the reign of King José I, under the supervision of the Governor and Secretary of Public Works of the city, João de Almada e Melo (1703-1786).

Intended to replace the 16^th century hospital of D. Lopo de Almeida, located in Rua das Flores, it was designed by the English architect John Carr (1727-1807), at the request of John Whitehead (1726-1802), consul of the British nation, a scientist, bibliophile and amateur architect, and of the Reverend Henry Wood, chaplain of this community between 1757 and 1768.

John Carr, known for designing country houses and hospitals, but unaware of the Porto context, conceived in 1769 a monumental square brick building, with four façades and a central patio with a chapel, covering an area of 28.721sq.m.

The works were lengthy and expensive, and took a long time due to the lack of public funds and the national political instability. The first patients - 150 women, who came from D. Lopo Hospital, which still remained in operation until 1824 - were only admitted in 1799.

The building is U-shaped because the west façade is not built and the north and south sections were shortened. However, despite the restrictions made to the original plan, John Carr contributed decisively to the introduction of the Neo-Palladian taste and Neo-Classical taste in Porto, and influenced other significant buildings in the city, for example Carrancas Palace, now Soares dos Reis National Museum, the Royal Academy of Maritime and Trade Affairs of the City of Porto and Palácio da Bolsa.