THE RECTORATE, PORTO

The current house of the Rectorate of the University of Porto has had many uses but has always been linked to Academia. A great Palladian NeoClassical pile in concept, most of the detailing is already the cruder, bolder, machine-made stuff we see all around 19th c. Porto. It houses several museums and an old archival library. Designed by an engineer, it has many flights of fancy such as a grand stone cantilevered step stair in the back, cornered courtyards, public arcades which are fully encloseable in wrought iron grates, a large lantern above the stairs, etc.
We are visiting this monumental complex on March 31st, 2012 - places are still available, but going fast! Drop us a line at oldportuguesestuff@gmail.com or the phone number +351 222 080 958.

VISITAS - UPDATE

Com a lista de marcações a encher depressa, cabe aqui fazer um esclarecimento: as horas para visitar o Paço Episcopal e a Reitoria estão coordenadas de modo a poderem ver-se ambas. A visita ao Paço, tal como descrito na apresentação, é ao átrio principal e à escadaria, espreitando a Sala dos Espelhos. Como tal há tempo para a seguir continuar com a visita à Reitoria da U.P.
Até breve!

APPETIZER FOR THE END OF THE MONTH

The British Factory - Feitoria Inglesa

Grand Staircase, Rectorate of the University - Escadaria da Reitoria da UP

The Bishop's Palace seen from the Seminary - O Paço Episcopal visto do Seminário

SLATE WALL TEXTURE

A side wall in a private House, Porto, covered in slate tiles.

ON SITE - AND NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

60's tiles, Aveiro.

VISITAS PRIVADAS AO PORTO

On March 28th and March 31st, Old Portuguese Stuff is organizing private tours to three buildings in Porto, usually not exposed to the public. These are the Factory House, also known as the British Association,  the Episcopal Palace and the Rectory of the University of Porto. This is an unique opportunity to visit one of the few private English gentleman's club in Portugal, along with one of the most monumental baroque staircases in Portugal and the neoclassical building complex of the former Science Faculty of the University of Porto.

All tours will be guided by a responsible of their institution. Each tour is free but will be limited to 20-25 participants. To register contact us through the email oldportuguesestuff@gmail.com.  

200 METERS LONG WAREHOUSE

This warehouse in Régua, Portugal, snakes along the train lines and is a marvel of modularity in wood boards.

ERMIDA DE NOSSA SENHORA DA CONCEIÇÃO

An early and rare example of Renaissance in Portugal, designed by an avantgarde Gothic architect - João de Castilho, who worked on the nearby Tomar Monastery.

WINDMILL

Windmill in Alqueidão, Portugal. In these years of massive proliferation of wind turbines ravaging the countryside landscape, stands this modest windmill which not too long ago was fully functional grinding wheat to make flour. Clay pots fixed to the spokes create an eerie sound which was useful to track the direction of the wind.

HAND PAINTED EAVE TILES

CHOCOLATE UMBRELAS

STUC PIERRE

Private house in Rua do Heroísmo, Porto

STUCCO CEILING

The beautiful ceiling of our office in Rua do Almada, Porto.

ALFÂNDEGA DO PORTO

Part of the customs house in Porto with its massive cast iron doors and slender temple of the winds columns. The beam is a real I-Beam made of riveted metal plates. This would predate Post-Modernism by more than a century - except here, the scale is right. Tracks on the floor enabled carts to go around with the goods to be inspected or securely stored.

EVEN OLDER MONEY

The lost craft of designing paper money.

OLD MONEY

Whether you agree with the single currency or not, or believe in the Euro implosion based on mountains of debt and speculation, the moral conundrums of a transfer economy, etc etc there is no question the old money was incredibly richer (visually, alas) than the new. These were the last bills to be issued before the Euro came, in 1999.

ROMANTIC GARDEN

Near Palacio do Freixo, in Porto, we can visit one of the first romantic gardens in the city - the Quinta de Villar d'Allen, from the early 19t century. Although it's still in private property, the current owner, third generation from João d'Allen, will kindly open its doors to all visitors who are interested not only in seeing one of the most exotic gardens in Porto but also their world class camellia grove and nursery. In the photos above we can see the main facade with the french garden in front and a view from the garden, showing a flaming urn designed by the italian architect Nicolau Nasoni.

PORT WINE

very, very old port wine....

Quinta Villar d'Allen, Porto

STONE PAVEMENT DESIGN

Quinta de Villar d'Allen, Porto

BARROCAS

As the weather triumphs over the limestone, the Cross triumphs over the Dice in the church of Barrocas, Aveiro. Maybe there is some other meaning to the number on the faces of the die. But who knows, and who cares - this is as glorious a window as can be.

TRAIN STATION CLOCK

 

Pinhão Train Station.

All of Portugal's train stations were, at a time, designed in the same style with the same materials, and few regional variations. Tiles were used profusely which depicted local scenes, monuments, landscapes. A Portuguese train station was easily identified as a building type.

We don't know if this wonderful clock was as ubiquitous as the painted tiles on the walls, but its design has both a modern dial and a beaux-arts body. This softness of style, both traditional and functionalist, is not unlike the mix which makes most old Portuguese stuff.