Cidade Tower

The Cidade Tower, locally known as Torre da Cidade, stands in the center of the city of Porto in the Área Metropolitana do Porto region in Portugal.

Its Portuguese name literally means 'Tower of the City.' It is also known as simply the 'Torre Medieval' ('Medieval Tower') or Torre de Rua de D. Pedro Pitões ('Tower of Dom Pedro Pitões Street').

The tower is situated in front of the Sé Cathedral, right in the heart of Porto. Although its exact medieval origins are uncertain, the tower likely formed part of Porto’s city fortifications under King Ferdinand I (1367-1383).

The tower was rediscovered during the redevelopment of the cathedral area in the 1940s, when it was uncovered after old blocks of houses and butcher shops were demolished. It was then moved some 15 meters from its original position and reconstructed with neo-Gothic elements.

The crenellated tower has a simple square plan, is 3 stories high, and features a main entrance marked by an ogee arch. It has a modern interior.

Today, the Cidade Tower houses the Porto Tourist Office. Even though it is a 20th-century reconstruction in a revival style, I still like it a lot. There is another tower on the outskirts of the old city center called the Pedro-Sem Tower.

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