Attractions
Matosinhos Market
Address: Mercado Municipal de Matosinhos, R. França Júnior, 4450-135 Matosinhos, Portugal .The Matosinhos Municipal Market is a market located in the city of Matosinhos, classified as a Monument of Public Interest since 2013.
The project, designed by the ARS Architects group—Fortunato Cabral, Morais Soares, and Cunha Leã dates back to 1939. It was inaugurated on May 27, 1952.
The north façade is adorned with ceramic panels created by Américo Soares Braga (1909–1991).
Casa da Arquitetura
Address: Av. Menéres 456, 4450-189 Matosinhos, Portugal .The Casa da Arquitectura – Portuguese Centre for Architecture, established in 2007, is a non-profit cultural association dedicated to promoting and affirming architecture on both a national and international level.
Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões
Address: 57GW+XF Matosinhos, Portugal .The Porto de Leixões Cruise Terminal is a maritime terminal for cruise ship passengers, located at the Port of Leixões in Portugal. It is a 40-meter-high structure with 18,500 cubic meters of concrete. By 2018, the new terminal was projected to accommodate nearly 130,000 passengers annually.
The first stone of the structure was laid in March 2010 during the government of Prime Minister José Sócrates. The terminal was inaugurated on July 24, 2015. In 2016, it welcomed 84 cruise ships and over 71,000 passengers.
Titan do Porto de Leixões
Address: Porto de Leixões, Portugal .Just like the ancient port of Rhodes, which featured a gigantic bronze statue of Apollo at its entrance (one of the famous and lost Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), Matosinhos and its Port of Leixões also had their own "colossi." Metallic. Two of them. One on each pier. Unique in the world, the "titans" are monumental cranes that serve as remarkable testaments to the era of iron architecture, engineering, and steam power.
Close relatives of other famous large-scale metal monuments from the late 19th century, such as the Eiffel Tower (1889), the Maria Pia Bridge (1877), the Luís I Bridge (1888), and the Ferreira Borges Market (1885), the titans were pivotal in the construction of the Port of Leixões—the largest engineering project undertaken in Portugal in the 19th century. Indeed, it was thanks to their strength and their advanced push toward the sea that the port’s breakwaters were built at the end of that century.
Fábrica de Conservas Pinhais
Address: Avenida Menéres 700, 4450-123 Matosinhos, Portugal .The Pinhais & Cia factory building has been located in the heart of Matosinhos (Porto) for nearly a century. It represents one of the most elegant and historic structures in the city and is considered one of the rarest and most beautiful functional canneries in the world to visit.
mumma - Museu da Memória de Matosinhos
Address: Rua de Alfredo Cunha 58, 4450-020 Matosinhos, Portugal .Localizado no Palacete Visconde de Trevões, o Museu da Memória de Matosinhos é um espaço de encontro entre o passado e o presente de Matosinhos, desde os primórdios até à atualidade, com uma conceção museográfica marcadamente interativa, com recurso às novas tecnologias.
É missão do museu valorizar a memória histórica e patrimonial do território de Matosinhos, cruzando-a com as memórias individuais dos seus habitantes, visando o reforço da identidade e a promoção da cidadania.
Piscina das Marés
Address: Av. Liberdade, 4450-716 Leça da Palmeira, Portugal .The Piscina das Marés is a complex of saltwater pools located at Leça Beach in the parish of Leça da Palmeira, within the municipality of Matosinhos.
Built in the 1960s and inaugurated in 1966, it was designed by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, the most renowned and awarded contemporary Portuguese architect. In 2006, it was designated as a National Monument.
Farol de Leça
Address: R. Cel. Helder Ribeiro 4450-686, Porto, Portugal .Leça Lighthouse, also known as Boa Nova Lighthouse, is a Portuguese lighthouse located in Leça da Palmeira, in the current parish of Matosinhos e Leça da Palmeira, within the city and municipality of Matosinhos, in the Porto District.
The lighthouse has a white conical tower shape made of reinforced concrete, with narrow black stripes and adjacent buildings. It is situated between the river bars of Ave and Douro, approximately two kilometers north of the mouth of the Leça River, where the Port of Leixões is located.
In an adjacent building, there is a small museum with an exhibition of pieces and mechanisms related to the theme of lighthouses, which is also open to visitors. In the outer grounds, visitors can find the column and lantern from the old Sobreiras Lighthouse.
Museu da Quinta de Santiago
Address: R. Vila Franca 134, 4450-802 Leça da Palmeira, Portugal .The building was constructed in the late 19th century as a vacation home for João Santiago de Carvalho.
The owner enjoyed the house so much that he ended up living there with his wife, D. Maria Carolina, and their only son, Dinis, more often than at their permanent residence, the Paço de S. Cipriano in Guimarães.
Conceived as a castle with a more modern touch, the mansion features a square tower and incorporates various architectural styles. The neo-medieval style is immediately noticeable at the entrance, with stained glass made from colorful bottle bottoms, emblems carved in relief on the walls, and symbolic elements, such as the image of a knight painted above a door holding a shield marked with the "S" of Santiago or the depiction of fantastical creatures, like the beast that adorns the bench known as the bestiary.
The mansion showcases a blend of styles: neo-Manueline, neo-Baroque, neo-Classical, neo-Medieval, and Romantic.
The project was designed by Nicola Bigaglia, a Venetian architect, designer, and watercolorist with mastery of classical styles and ornamental processes.
Considered a historical testimony to the urban and social transformations experienced by the city since the late 19th century, the property was acquired by the Matosinhos City Council in 1968. It later underwent conservation and restoration under a project led by the architect Fernando Távora, and was requalified as a museum space, inaugurated on April 2, 1996.
Angeiras – Comunidade piscatória
Address: Travessa de Rudolfo de Mesquita 24, Lavra, Portugal .At the northernmost end of the Matosinhos municipality, on Angeiras beach, lies one of the last remaining artisan fishing communities in the region.
The longstanding tradition of combining agricultural and maritime practices in this area gave rise to a permanent, specialized fishing community on this beach in the mid-19th century. The modest, colorful beach houses, the iconic municipal market, and the small boats and nets spread across the sand are characteristic features of this village. Equally distinctive are the small restaurants offering excellent cuisine, where grilled fish and freshly caught seafood take center stage. While the sardine (known for its taste reminiscent of shellfish) is considered the queen of Angeiras, the reign here is shared with octopus, sea bass, conger eel, spider crab, shrimp, velvet crab, lobster, and gooseneck barnacles.
Mosteiro de Leça do Balio
Address: Leça do Balio Monastery, R. do Mosteiro, 4465-703 Leça do Balio, Portugal .The Monastery of Leça do Balio, which includes the Church of Santa Maria de Leça do Balio, is located in the parish of Custóias, Leça do Balio, and Guifões, within the municipality of Matosinhos, in the Porto district, Portugal.
Situated about a league from the mouth of the Leça River, this monastery is a unique example of fortified religious architecture.
It has been classified as a National Monument by a decree published on June 23, 1910.
Casa de Chá da Boa Nova
Address: Av. Liberdade 1681, 4450-718 Leça da Palmeira .The Casa de Chá da Boa Nova is located in the Boa Nova area, next to the Leça Lighthouse, in the parish of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira, within the municipality of Matosinhos, in the Porto district, Portugal.
It is a well-known tea house and restaurant, housed in a building that was one of the first works (1958-1963) by the architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. Built on the rocks, just two meters from the water, with the sea as its backdrop, it is a popular spot for architecture enthusiasts, fine dining lovers, and those who enjoy contemplating the sea.
The Casa de Chá da Boa Nova has been classified as a National Monument since 2011.
Casa da Música
Address: Av. da Boavista 604-610, Porto, Portugal .The Casa da Música is a concert hall and the second largest in the city, located on Avenida da Boavista in Porto, Portugal. It was designed by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas as part of the Porto 2001 European Capital of Culture event.
Although the construction was only completed in 2005, the building immediately became an icon of the city.
Despite the opening concert taking place on April 14 with performances by Clã and Lou Reed, the venue was officially inaugurated on April 15, 2005, by the President of the Republic, Jorge Sampaio. The event was attended by the Prime Minister, politicians, and Porto’s society for a concert performed by the Orquestra Nacional do Porto.
Torre dos Clérigos
Address: R. de São Filipe de Nery, 4050-546 Porto .The Church and Tower of Clérigos (18th century) is a remarkable architectural complex located in the city of Porto, Portugal, and is considered the city's iconic postcard image.
Situated at the top of Rua dos Clérigos, between Rua de São Filipe Néri (or São Filipe Nery) and Rua da Assunção, the complex consists of three main elements: the Church of Clérigos, the Clérigos Tower, and the Brotherhood House, which connects the church and the tower and once housed the other services of the Brotherhood of Clérigos. Designed by architect Nicolau Nasoni, this complex is one of the most notable examples of the late Baroque style in Portugal and has been classified as a National Monument since 1910. It is considered Nasoni's most emblematic work, incorporating in its granite ornamentation "a dynamic Rococo morphology alongside vernacular continuity lines, if not even a mannerist emphasis."
The most striking architectural elements of the complex are characterized by the irregularity and exaggeration of the forms, which create a surprising scenic effect. "Notable features include irregular floor plans, wavy façades enhanced by contrasting protrusions, balconies and recesses, interrupted arches, and a great abundance of varied windows, complemented by the exuberant bell tower."
Nasoni was buried in this church, to which he dedicated much time and effort. During the recent extensive rehabilitation, a crypt was revealed, which may contain his tomb.
Parque da Cidade
Address: Parque da Cidade do Porto, Estrada Interior da Circunvalação, Porto, Portugal .The Porto City Park, designed by renowned landscape architect Sidónio Pardal, is the largest urban park in Portugal, spanning an impressive 83 hectares and offering 10 kilometers of pathways for exploration.
This elegantly designed landscape seamlessly integrates lakes, diverse flora and fauna, and carefully curated natural elements into the city’s urban fabric. The terrain’s sculpting, combined with stone features and lush woodlands, creates tranquil spaces where visitors feel a world away from the bustling, densely populated surroundings.
A true haven for relaxation and leisure, the Porto City Park offers an unparalleled blend of nature and urban sophistication, making it a must-visit destination for both residents and tourists.
Norte Shopping
Address: NorteShopping, Rua Sara Afonso, Senhora da Hora, Portugal .NorteShopping, located in Senhora da Hora, Matosinhos, is the largest shopping center in northern Portugal by Gross Leasable Area (GLA). It is jointly owned by Fundo Sierra and Nuveen, making it a significant player in the region's retail landscape.
This iconic shopping destination combines a wide variety of stores, services, and leisure options, attracting visitors from across the country and offering a modern, vibrant experience in the heart of Matosinhos.
Exponor
Address: Exponor, Avenida Doutor António Macedo, Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, Portugal .The EXPONOR – Porto International Fair is the largest exhibition and congress venue in Portugal, spanning approximately 60,000 m² of covered space. It is located in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, in the Greater Porto area.
EXPONOR is managed by the Portuguese Business Association (AEP), which has over 150 years of experience in organizing fairs, having held its first industrial exhibition in 1857, in the city of Porto. Today, EXPONOR organizes nearly 40 fairs annually in Portugal, Angola, and Brazil, specifically in São Paulo, through Exponor Brasil.
Kartódromo Cabo do Mundo
Address: Kartódromo Cabo Do Mundo, Rua de Almeiriga Norte, Perafita, Portugal .The Kartódromo do Cabo do Mundo, established in 1979, is recognized as the oldest permanent karting track in Portugal.
Located in Leça da Palmeira, Matosinhos, by the sea, it offers a unique experience for karting enthusiasts, blending the adrenaline of racing with the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
Zimbório do Sr. do Padrão
Address: Zimbório do Sr. do Padrão, Jardim Senhor do Padrão, Rua Godinho, Matosinhos, Portugal .The Padrão do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos, also known as the Zimbório do Senhor do Padrão, Padrão do Senhor da Areia, or Nosso Senhor do Padrão, is a commemorative monument located in the parish of Matosinhos and Leça da Palmeira, in the municipality of Matosinhos, Portugal.
According to local legend, the "Senhor do Padrão" marks the spot where, on May 3rd in the year 124, the image of the Bom Jesus de Matosinhos was washed ashore.
