European Ribbon

🎬 Introduction

Recognized as one of the most incredible railway stations in the world, the São Bento Railway Station, over 100 years old, stands as the most spectacular gateway to Porto.  Located in the heart of the city, the station began operations in 1896, providing residents with a direct connection to the main northern railway hub of Campanhã, opened in 1875. São Bento was eventually connected to Campanhã by a double track approximately 2.7 km (1.68 miles) long, forming the initial section of the Minho line.

📖  The Story

🚧Temporary Station

The need to connect the city with the large and crowded Campanhã station emerged in the minds of Porto’s leaders at the end of the 19th century. The ambitious plan for a new station for the Porto Urban Railway Line was approved by the Minister of Public Works in January 1888. It involved partially routing the line through a tunnel and establishing a station on the site of the 16th-century São Bento de Ave-Maria Benedictine Convent, which gave the station its name.

The convent was founded by King Manuel I in 1528, housing nuns and also accepting girls for education and widows or single women. Interestingly, women from higher social strata could reside in the convent with their servants and personal belongings. The decision to demolish the convent was due to its poor condition in the latter half of the 19th century. Although the nuns managed to repair much of the damage from a 1783 fire, their fate was sealed by an 1834 decree that abolished religious orders in Portugal. The decree immediately closed male orders, and while female orders were allowed to remain until the nuns’ deaths, they were forbidden from accepting novices and stopped receiving financial support, forcing them to sell their assets and ultimately leading to poverty. A legend in Porto recounts that impatient residents awaited the death of the last nun, who defied them by living to an old age. Another part of the legend claims her laughter, prayers, and cries can still be heard in the São Bento station tunnels.

Despite opposition from the clergy and some residents, the importance of the investment and its significance for the city sealed the convent’s fate. The arduous process of expropriating land for the construction began, forcing both modest shopkeepers and wealthy property owners on Rua de Santo Antonio to sell their properties.

Finally, in 1890, construction began. The project involved drilling three tunnels through Porto’s hills, overseen by engineer Justino Teixeira. The first phase, completed with the opening of a temporary station, was inaugurated on November 7, 1896. The grand opening featured a special multi-carriage train adorned with flags, carrying important dignitaries, including representatives from Minho and Douro Railways, engineers, and city councilors, to the music of the 6th Infantry Regiment’s band. The event attracted crowds of local residents, and a commemorative plaque was unveiled. The temporary station began operations the following day.

🏁 Final Station

Simultaneously with the technical aspects of the station, designs for its interior were developed. Despite its relatively small area, it was expected to be spacious enough to accommodate passenger services and the required telegraph and postal services of Minho and Douro Railways. The original 1897 design by architect Marques da Silva envisioned a cheaper and more subdued building extending from the end of the tracks, with a facade of iron and glass in line with contemporary trends. However, in 1902, the High Council of Public Works altered the design, dedicating the entire space to passenger services and relocating postal and telegraph services to other buildings, leaving only small offices at the station. This eliminated the need for an entire first floor, with the central building measuring 14 meters (45.93 feet) wide and 42 meters (137.8 feet)long. The final plan required the demolition of the remaining convent structures, including a clinic established by Queen Amélia. Thanks to effective intervention by merchant associations, the clinic was relocated to the Santa Clara Convent. On October 22, 1900, King Dom Carlos and Queen Amélia de Orléans laid the cornerstone for the final station.

What amazes visitors today are the impressive azulejo tile artworks. These tiles, from the renowned Sacavém factory, were arranged between 1905 and 1906 by Jorge Colaço, then considered Portugal’s most popular tile artist. Colaço, an outstanding Portuguese painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was the son of a diplomat and Moroccan vice-consul. He traveled extensively in his youth and studied in Madrid and Paris under Ferdinand Cormon. Known as the “father” of the azulejo art revival in Portugal, he undeniably restored its glory. While São Bento in Porto is his most famous work, he also created facades for Igreja de Santo Ildefonso and Igreja dos Congregados.

The main atrium of the station, maintained in Art Nouveau style, features over 20,000 tiles covering nearly 551 square meters (5,931.6 square feet) of walls.

The themes depict historical events from northern Portugal. On the left side of the entrance is Tornij under the Arcos de Valdevez, the 1140 battle between King Alfonso VII of León and the first King of Portugal, Afonso I. The second panel on this side shows Egas Moniz with his family before King Alfonso VII of León and Castile. Egas was a prominent noble from Porto whose political and military actions helped place Afonso I on the throne. On the opposite side, two large panels depict the conquest of Ceuta in 1415 and the entry of King John I of Portugal and Philippa of Lancaster into Porto in 1387. The colorful panels above are dedicated to the history of Portuguese transportation, culminating in the inauguration of the railway, and feature scenes from the lives of local residents.

São Bento Railway Station was officially completed and opened on October 5, 1916.

The Station in the 20th Century

The 20th century saw the creation of the Portuguese Railway Company in 1927, which began operating old railway lines, including the Minho Railway. In the 1930s, innovative sound and signaling systems were installed, and novelties were introduced at the station, such as revolving cabinets at ticket offices. Changes included relocating the cabinets, which covered part of the tiles, closer to the baggage area, and placing a large gate in their former location, opened only during heavy traffic or official events. In 1965, electric traction was installed at the station.

The 21st century began with costly renovations and conservation of the unique tiles, along with internal infrastructure reorganization to better serve passengers. It is also a time when new generations can admire one of the world’s most beautiful railway stations.