Monastery of Serra do Pilar

Monastery of Serra do Pilar tickets: which one to buy

The Serra do Pilar monastery stands on a granite hill in Vila Nova de Gaia, directly above the upper deck of the Dom Luis I bridge, and it is the best viewpoint over Porto: the whole old city, the river with its boats and the port wine lodges are spread out below. The terrace in front of the monastery is free and open at all hours, and most visitors come only for the view, especially at sunset. The church, cloister and dome can be visited on a small ticket, and climbing to the terrace around the dome gives an even higher panorama.

Walking tours that cross the bridge on foot from Porto usually stop here. The metro runs across the upper deck of the bridge, and the Jardim do Morro station is next to the monastery; a cable car also runs down to the Gaia riverfront and the wine cellars. Part of the monastery is still used by the army, so some areas are closed. Guided visits of the dome run in small groups at set times and can be booked at the entrance.

Visiting Monastery of Serra do Pilar: what to see

Augustinian canons began building the monastery in 1538, and the unusual design took shape over the following century: the church is circular, covered by a dome, and it is attached to a cloister that is also circular, a rare arrangement anywhere in Europe. Tall Ionic columns surround the round cloister, and the church interior has gilded altars and decoration from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

The hill had strategic value, and the monastery played a role in several wars: in 1809 the Duke of Wellington used it to plan his crossing of the Douro against French troops, and during the siege of Porto in 1832 and 1833 the liberal forces held it against repeated attacks. After the religious orders were dissolved the buildings became barracks. The monastery is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the historic centre of Porto, together with the city across the river. The terrace around the dome is reached by a narrow stair and gives a complete circle of views, including the Atlantic on clear days.

Monastery of Serra do Pilar opening hours and the best time to go

The terrace is always open, and sunset is the busiest and most beautiful time, when crowds gather to watch the light fade over the river and the old town. Early morning is quiet and clear. The monastery interior keeps daytime hours and is closed on Mondays. Summer brings the most visitors; spring and autumn are pleasant, and in winter the air is often clearer for photographs, though showers are frequent.

The festival of Saint John in June brings fireworks over the river at midnight, and the hill is a popular place to watch them. Allow about forty-five minutes for the monastery and the dome, and walk back across the upper deck of the bridge to Porto for the view in the other direction. The upper deck of the bridge is shared with the metro, and the walk across takes about ten minutes.