South Tower’s Belfry and Cupola
The image shows the belfry of the north tower of Porto Cathedral, seen from its twin on the south side. Both towers were topped with matching Baroque additions in the 18th century: a bulging cupola on top of a drum-like structure, and a balustraded terrace of turned stone balusters running around it, with a cartouche carved into the drum of the dome below. These sit above the older medieval stonework, which is plainer and more fortress-like, a reminder that the towers began as defensive structures overlooking the city.
The stone archways below the terrace house the cathedral’s bells. As seen in the image, there are two archways, and in one of them a bronze bell is visible in the shadow of the opening. The bell hangs from a wooden yoke with a scalloped, Baroque-style profile, its bronze surface showing the green patina that comes with centuries of weathering.
Beyond and below the tower, Porto’s terracotta rooftops stretch toward the Douro, with the equestrian statue of Vímara Peres, the 9th-century count credited with reclaiming Porto from Moorish rule, visible on its pedestal near the cathedral.
Explore More About Porto Cathedral
– Porto Cathedral: A Unique Blend of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque Styles
– North Tower’s Belfry and Cupola
– Bronze Bell in the North Tower
– West Façade with Rose Window and Twin Bell Towers
– View of the Interior Showing Romanesque Nave and the Baroque High Altar
– Rose Window and Pipe Organ
– Sanctuary with the Magnificent Baroque High Altar
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