📖 Introduction
Porto and the northern region are home to the highest number of small and medium-sized enterprises and the most productive agricultural areas. This region also has the largest share in national exports and exports more than it imports. However, economically, Porto has always competed with 🔗 Lisbon. In the mid-19th century, the wealthy industrial class in the region established the powerful Porto Commercial Association, now known as the Portuguese Business Association. The former Porto Stock Exchange was transformed into Portugal’s largest derivatives exchange. After merging with the Lisbon Stock Exchange, it became the Lisbon and Porto Stock Exchange. In 2002, BVLP (Bolsa de Valores de Lisboa e Porto) was ultimately integrated into Euronext, along with the stock exchanges of Belgium, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.
Today, the headquarters of the Porto Commercial Association is one of the city’s main tourist attractions.
🚩Location
The building that housed the stock exchange for many years is the Palácio da Bolsa. 
It is located at Infante D. Henrique Square and adjoins the 🔗 Church of Saint Francis. Although the facade of the Church of Saint Francis facing the square is modest, without its existence and the monastery that once adjoined it, the Stock Exchange Palace might look completely different.
The history of the palace begins with the Franciscans who arrived in Porto in the mid-13th century. Over time, they built a church and an adjacent monastery. Both structures survived until the early 19th century when, in 1832, the monastery burned down during the civil wars, leaving the church miraculously intact. The political situation and the decree abolishing religious orders in 1834 dashed hopes of rebuilding the monastery. In 1841, Queen Maria II granted the ruins of the devastated monastery to the Porto Commercial Association, which was seeking space for its headquarters and the construction of the Stock Exchange. The construction of the impressive building, meant to demonstrate the trading prowess of the Portuguese, began on October 6, 1842, according to architect Joaquim da Costa’s design. The first floor and the main facade of this Neo-Gothic building, inspired by Palladian style, were completed in November 1850. From 1860, elaborate work on the interiors began, adding architectural details and rich decorations.
👷♀Architecture and Interiors
The grand entrance is adorned with a main portal supported by massive columns, behind which is a tower crowning the roof. The interior impresses from the start with the Hall of Nations, topped with an octagonal iron and glass dome, created in 1880 by Tomás Soler. The decorations under the dome feature 20 coats of arms of the countries that were Portugal’s trading partners in the 19th century. The patio occupies the former cloisters of the monastery and leads to the Noble Staircase from 1868, with enormous bronze chandeliers weighing 1.5 tons, crafted by Soares dos Reis. These chandeliers also remind us that the building was the first electrified building in Porto. Besides the chandeliers, the building housed a telegraph in its own room, used for transmitting trade-related information directly from the palace.
Another room showcasing the palace’s self-sufficiency was the Court Room, designed in French Renaissance style, along with the adjacent Jury Room. The Gallery of Former Presidents displays portraits of all the deceased presidents of the Porto Commercial Association, who supported this institution with their work.
Gustave Eiffel’s Cabinet
Gustave Eiffel himself had an office in Palacio da Bolsa, with windows offering a view of the Dom Luís I Bridge, although he also left behind another bridge in Porto – the D. Maria Pia railway bridge. This room is a tribute to this brilliant man, honored by the Porto Commercial Association.
Golden Room and Other Highlights
In the Golden Room, with its stunning stucco ceiling, the 15-member Board of Directors still meets monthly. The display cases in this room hold extraordinary memorabilia, including the oldest bottle of Porto wine and the pen used by Queen Maria II to sign the monastery’s transfer to the association. Also worth seeing is the Portrait room decorated in Louis XVI style, featuring portraits of kings and queens from the Bragança dynasty.
The Arabian Room
However, the most impressive room is the Arabian Room, inaugurated on June 12, 1880, on the 300th anniversary of Luís de Camões’ death. Work on it lasted over 18 years, based on Gustavo Adolfo Gonçalves e Sousa’s design, inspired by the Alhambra Palace. The Arabian Room is an example of Neo-Moorish art in Portugal, with every available surface – walls, floors, ceilings, doors, and windows – lavishly decorated. Arabic inscriptions adorn the room, some forming words and others creating letter compositions. This is the most important room in Porto, hosting official performances, concerts, and prestigious ceremonies.
Library and Chess Room
The final rooms on the tour are the Library and the Chess room. The Library is inaccessible due to its priceless collection of over 10,000 volumes on trade and economics. It also houses a portrait of Ferreira Borges, dated 1839, painted by José Alves Ferreira, honoring the man who created the first Portuguese commercial code. The library also contains valuable artistic clocks and two enormous 19th-century globes, one representing the earth and the other the celestial sphere. The chess room boasts an intriguing collection of various chess sets.
The decoration work on Palacio da Bolsa was completed in 1909 to mark the visit of King Manuel II, the last monarch of Portugal. Palacio da Bolsa is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
🚶♀️➡️Visit
Visiting Palacio da Bolsa is possible only in organized groups with a guide during specific time slots. . The entire tour takes about 30 minutes.
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