The ornate ceiling and upper galleries
Located on the upper floor of Palácio da Bolsa in Porto, Portugal, the Arab Room (Salão Árabe) is unlike any other room in the building. Stepping into it, with its magnificence and splendor, feels like entering different world altogether. While many of the other rooms reflect Porto’s connections to business, including industry, commerce and agriculture, the Arab Room draws inspiration from the architectural traditions of the Moors, who ruled parts of the Iberian Peninsula for nearly eight centuries, particularly the Nasrid Palaces of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain.
The exquisitely decorated ceiling is embellished with intricate patterns in red, cream, and gold that extend across the vault. Curvilinear bands interlace to create compartments of various shapes and sizes, enclosing several decorative motifs, including beehive-like forms, floral patterns, and stylized foliage. Adding to the beauty of the ceiling are the octagonal skylights, which allow natural light to illuminate the hall and highlight its rich decoration.
Equally impressive are the symmetrically arranged upper galleries, with their decorative Moorish arches, slender columns, and balustrades punctuated by lamp-topped posts. Their balanced design complements the richly ornamented ceiling, creating a blend of harmonious architectural composition.
Designed by Portuguese architect Gustavo Adolfo Gonçalves de Sousa and completed in 1880, the Arab Room is an impressive example of 19th-century Moorish Revival architecture.
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