São Bento Station: 20,000 Tiles That Tell the History of Portugal

São Bento Station: 20,000 Tiles That Tell the History of Portugal

If you have visited Porto, there is a good chance you have already walked through São Bento Station.

It is right in the historic centre and is still a working train station, but most people stop here for another reason: the incredible walls covered in blue and white tiles.
The main hall is decorated with around 20,000 azulejos, painted by Portuguese artist Jorge Colaço.
The panels show important moments from Portuguese history, scenes from everyday life and the evolution of transport. If you stop and look closely, the walls are almost like a huge illustrated book about Portugal.

The history of the building itself is also interesting.
Before the station existed, this was the site of the Convent of São Bento de Avé Maria. The current station was built here at the beginning of the 20th century, with its glass and cast iron structure designed by Portuguese architect Marques da Silva.

Today, São Bento is still used by thousands of passengers, so you have this unusual combination of a functioning railway station and one of Porto's most impressive historic interiors.

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