Before you, stands Quartel da Bela Vista, a building steeped in Porto’s history. You might not guess it from its imposing facade, but this building has witnessed a transformation. It started its life as a grand Quinta, a sprawling estate. Back in 1911, it was purchased by a man named Dr Jose de Oliveira Lima. He envisioned a modern educational institution, the Instituto Moderno. This was a dream realized through a magnificent edifice, built with a revolutionary material for its time – reinforced concrete. The Instituto Moderno became the first building embraced by Porto’s skyline constructed with this new building material. It was a school like no other, with facilities to rival the very best in Europe. The Instituto Moderno stood as a beacon of progress, not just for Porto, but for Portugal. However, its role was destined to shift. The building became a haven for the ailing, serving as a hospital during the typhoid epidemic in 1918. But, the building was not meant for forever housing medical care. As times shifted, the grandeur of the Quinta da Bela Vista once more became a testament to its original purpose, housing the PSP, the Public Security Police. Today, the Quartel da Bela Vista stands tall, a living monument to the evolution of Porto, housing a history of education, medical care, and policing, a building with a rich past that continues to serve the city.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to