Igreja de Santo Ildefonso
A Baroque church beside Batalha Square whose front facade is covered with about 11,000 blue-and-white tiles.
The Church of Santo Ildefonso was built in the early 18th century and is an early Baroque building in Porto. Its facade, flanked by two bell towers, was covered with about 11,000 blue-and-white tiles in 1932 by painter Jorge Colaço. The tiles depict the life of Saint Ildefonso and the symbolism of the Eucharist. Together with the Capela das Almas, it is considered one of the city’s two great tiled churches. Inside are a gilded altar and stained-glass windows, and visiting requires a small admission fee. It sits where Batalha Square meets the southern end of Santa Catarina Street, about a 5-minute walk from São Bento station, and can be linked with the tile route.
Opening hours
Approx. 9:00 am–7:00 pm (Sunday morning Mass schedule applies)
Nearby sights
- Rua de Santa Catarina & Majestic Café
- Bolhão Market
- Capela das Almas
- São Bento Railway Station
- Avenida dos Aliados
- Porto Cathedral
- Dom Luís I Bridge
- Monastery of Serra do Pilar