The Leça do Balio monastery has a colourful history, including being the site of an illicit royal weddingPhoto: Filipe Braga The Leça do Balio monastery was designated a national monument more than 100 years ago, one of the first Portuguese landmarks to receive that honour. With its recent conversion into a cultural centre by one of the country’s best-known architects, the complex is opening a new chapter in its 600-year history. The monastery complex and the neighbouring church that stand today largely date back to the 14th century. The Leça do Balio monastery witnessed a major event in Portuguese history in 1372, when Ferdinand I of Portugal married Leonor Teles de Meneses in a secret wedding ceremony after breaking off his engagement to a Spanish princess. Religious orders left the site in 1834, though the church, Santa Maria de Leça do Balio, remains an active place of worship. The Lionesa Group bought the site as part of a plan to expand the business park and gave the architect Álvaro Siza the task of converting the Leça do Balio monastery into a cultural centre and the headquarters of Livraria Lello’s charitable foundation, dedicated to using culture as a tool to promote critical thinking. The opening exhibition at the centre, which examines the danger misinformation poses to society, is showing until summer 2025. Aged 91, Siza continues to work on new architecture projects—and to smoke cigarettes. His goal in renewing the monastery was to maintain the site’s themes and traditions as a religious space, but also to open the experience to all, according to António Choupina, an architect who worked with Siza on the project. Siza’s work also included the demolition of lower-quality structural components in the building to improve the space’s integrity. The granite elements of the site were conserved, while doors, windows and floors were restored where possible and reconstructed where necessary, Siza says. The Pedro Pinto family spent €2m on the first stage of the monastery conversion and plans to invest €10m in total, the foundation says. The next step will be the development of the land between the monastery and the Lionesa Business Hub. The Livraria Lello Foundation has recruited the Portuguese landscape architect Sidónio Pardal to collaborate with Siza to create a 38,000 sq. m garden, expected to be completed by 2025. headquartered in a 14th-century Gothic monastery just outside Porto seeks to educate visitors through its inaugural exhibition news11 October 2024Heritage sites on new offshoot of Spain’s Camino could benefit from pilgrim boomWhile travellers rarely stop to sightsee providing overnight facilities will give historic venues an edge news14 March 2022Historic Ukrainian monastery—sheltering hundreds of refugees—narrowly escapes destruction after Russian air strikeCathedral building has suffered external damage as bombs land 50m away The Lello Bookstore Foundation opened its headquarters in June, the Leça do Balio Monastery, whose renovation and expansion project was the work of Álvaro Siza Vieira The project includes a sculpture by Siza Vieira in honour of pilgrims The Leça do Balio Monastery in North Porto has been a national monument since 1910 gaining prominence in the High Middle Ages due to its connection with the Camino de Santiago as the headquarters of the Order of the Knights Hospitaller (now the Order of Malta) that supported pilgrims Inspired by the literary legacy of the eponymous bookstore, Livraria Lello, the Foundation advocates reading as a transformative tool. The Lello Bookstore Foundation is a cultural entity dedicated to promoting access to books and knowledge amplifying critical thinking and strengthening the relationship with territories and heritage "I was asked to design a building project that would make visible the importance of Leça do Balio in the Way of Saint James A new landmark in the building that occupies part of a geometric garden belonging to the monastery and has a connection with the church itself." Álvaro Siza Vieira The intervention in the Monastery of Leça do Balio and the addition by Álvaro Siza represent a fusion of history while also paying tribute to the roots of the Monastery as an important structure along the Camino de Santiago It will now serve as the headquarters for the Livraria Lello Foundation offering a space for “exhibitions that will champion literacy and critical thinking.” Siza’s new expansion has a 400 square-meter extension bordering four white concrete walls containing a geometric building and a singular patio Monastery of Leça do Balio extension by Álvaro Siza The main building sits on a corner of the square enclosure which rises at their side and centre as towers that articulate the structure stand 12 meters and 14 meters tall The sheltered entrance is located in the inner angle of the "L" with an elegant turn to one side Siza's space shows us a stripped-back interior defined only by exposed concrete walls and the natural light drawn through the openings of the towers contrasted by dark wooden doors and the same gravel flooring from the courtyard “Wayfarer,” stands 1.80 meters tall and anchors the structure as a poetic tribute to the pilgrim’s inner journey and physical passage along the nearby Camino de Santiago the additional space offers a serene retreat for visitors to reflect on the Monastery’s exhibitions the campus gardens will be inaugurated in 2025 and have been designed by Sidónio Pardal Álvaro Siza and Rita Frois do Amaral Engineering.- GOP.Landscape.-  Sidónio Pardal Acquired in 2016 by the Lionesa Group. Works.- 2018. Opening.- 22 June 2024 Alexandre Delmar, Augusto Custodio, Filipe Braga Álvaro Joaquim Melo Siza Vieira was born in Matosinhos (near Porto) From 1949-55 he studied at the School of Architecture His first built project was finished in 1954 He taught at the School of Architecture (ESBAP) from 1966-69 and was appointed Professor of "Construction" in 1976 He was a Visiting Professor at the Ècole Polythéchnique of Lausanne Los Andes University of Bogotá and the Graduate School of Design of Harvard University; he taught at the School of Architecture of Porto (jubilate in 2003).He is the author of many projects such as: the Boa Nova Tea House and Restaurant; 1200 dwellings built in Malagueira Évora; the Superior School of Education in Setúbal the new School of Architecture in Porto; the Library of Aveiro University; the Museum of Modern Art in Porto; the Church and Parochial Centre in Marco de Canavezes; the Pavilion of Portugal for EXPO '98 and the Pavilion of Portugal in Hannover 2000 (with Souto de Moura); the dwelling and offices complex of “Terraços de Bragança” in Lisbon; and he has rebuilt the burnt area of Chiado in Lisbon since 1988 including the projects for some buildings like Castro e Melo and others.He has been coordinated the plan of Schilderswijk's recuperation in The Hague which finished in 89; in 1995 he finished the project for blocs 6-7-8 in Ceramique Terrein Maastricht.In Spain he has completed the projects for the Meteorological Centre of Villa Olimpica in Barcelona; the Museum of Contemporary Art of Galicia and the Faculty of Information Sciences in Santiago de Compostela; the Rectorate of the Alicante University; Zaida building – offices South Korea and Sweden.Having been invited to participate in international competitions he won the first place in Schlesisches Tor at the recuperation of Campo di Marte in Venice (1985) and at the renewal of Casino and Café Winkler Salzburg (1986); Cultural Centre for the La Defensa Madrid (with José Paulo Santos) (1988/89); J California (with Peter Testa) (1993); Pietà Rondanini Room Milan (1999); Special Plan Recoletos-Prado Madrid (with Juan Miguel Hernandez Leon e Carlos Riaño) (2002); Toledo Hospital (Sánchez-Horneros office) (2003); “Atrio de la Alhambra” in Spain (with Juan Domingo Santos)(2010); “Parco delle Cave” Lecce in Italy (with Carlos Castanheira) (2010).He has participated in the competitions for Expo 92 in Sevilla Spain (with Eduardo Souto de Moura and Adalberto Dias) (1986); for "Un Progetto per Siena" Italy (with José Paulo Santos) (1988); the Cultural Centre La Defensa in Madrid Spain (1988/89); the Bibliothèque of France in Paris (1989/90) the Helsinki Museum (with Souto de Moura) (1992-93); Flamenco City of Xerez de la Frontera Spain (with Juan Miguel Hernandez Leon) (2003).From 1982 to 2010 has won many different awards and have been assigned with Medals of Cultural Merit from many country around the world Doctor "Honoris Causa" in various European and International universities.He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Science; "Honorary Fellow" of the Royal Institute of British Architects; AIA/American Institute of Architects; Académie d'Architecture de France and European Academy of Sciences and Arts; Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts; IAA/International Academy of Architecture; American Academy of Arts and Letters Archive Architecture Foundation Livraria Lello is set to open its newly revitalized Monastery of Leça do Balio with a rich public program and a landmark extension by Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza Vieira built upon the remains of an ancient Roman temple will sit as the organization’s headquarters and a cultural nucleus open to the community Its storied stone walls now house the artworks of esteemed public figures and contemporary artists, engaging in a visual dialogue with Siza’s modernist white concrete intervention Its towering geometries encircle an open-air courtyard where visitors can retreat to reflect on the monastery’s exhibitions alongside Siza’s free-standing sculpture which anchors the site with a poetic tribute to its spiritual history Álvaro Siza Vieira’s architectural intervention is complemented by Sidónio Pardal’s landscaping bridging the Monastery of Leça do Balio’s heritage and Foundation Livraria Lello’s progressive vision for cultural communities features towers rising 40 feet and 46 feet tall that in their abstractions echo the angularities shaping the monastery’s elevation These structures are integrated with interior and exterior pathways constructed of permeable paying tribute to the Monastery’s roots and significance along the Camino de Santiago Álvaro Siza Vieira completes an extension for the newly revitalized Monastery of Leça do Balio the Monastery of Leça do Balio will be inaugurated with Act the Thought a contemplative exhibition exploring the theme of misinformation and its human costs spotlighting the stories of Salman Rushdie and Ai Wei Wei along with an installation created through JR’s global art project the modernist architecture engages in dialogue with the monastery’s historic stone walls the structure’s towering geometries encircle an open-air courtyard Álvaro Siza’s free-standing sculpture anchors the site with a poetic tribute to its spiritual history featuring towers rising 40 feet and 46 feet tall a space where visitors can retreat to reflect on the monastery’s exhibitions name: Monastery of Leça do Balio extension architect: Álvaro Siza Vieira institution: Foundation Livraria Lello AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style the Monastery of Leça do Balio is to reopen after a rehabilitation The current headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation it will be possible to visit the space and more there is an incredible place that is well worth a visit especially for those who enjoy historical monuments… and now there’s news the Monastery of Leça do Balio will reopen its doors According to the same source, the visits will take place every day of the week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except on June 24th. However, this is not the only news, as the official opening is scheduled for June 21, when the program for 2024 will be unveiled. Classified as a National Monument since 1910, the Monastery of Leça do Balio is known for having hosted the first romantic wedding in history of the portuguese monarchy in the XIV. At the same time, it is still an (almost) obligatory stopping point on the Camino de Santiago route. However, the role of this space today goes beyond its historical importance. When it was acquired by the Lionesa Business Center, it is now the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation, which intends to make the place more dynamic. The inauguration of the renovated monument coincides with the presentation of the “Act The Thought” exhibition. This is a photographic project that aims to mix the faces of anonymous figures with those of well-known personalities to fill the entire area around the building. The aim is to alert people to the risks of misinformation. Another possibility for those who appreciate culture is to visit the Escultura Aberta, the work of the famous architect Álvaro Siza Vieira (which has already been awarded a Pritzker Prize). However, you have to pay to see the sculpture: 8€ for adults; 4€ for students and seniors (over 65); children under 12 don’t pay (as long as they are accompanied by adults). This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Livraria Lello has been called the world’s most beautiful bookstore and its Neo-Gothic exterior façade and interior winding wooden staircase draw more than 1 million visitors a year making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Porto—Portugal’s second-largest city knowledge and culture to promote critical thinking An exhibition currently staged at the foundation’s new headquarters examines the effects of misinformation and disinformation a subject that Portuguese people have been particularly concerned about recently The Livraria Lello Foundation opened its new headquarters in June in Leça do Balio in a 14th-century Gothic monastery renovated by the famed Portuguese architect Álvaro Siza who also designed the Iberê Camargo Foundation building in Porto Alegre Brazil; the Amore Pacific Research & Design Center just outside of Seoul South Korea; and the Bonjour Tristesse building in Berlin The monastery’s renovation transformed it into a cultural centre with JR's photographic intervention seen on the left side Courtesy Livraria Lello Foundation the original monastery and surrounding complex were built on the remains of a temple to the Roman god Jupiter but the first Christian church was built on the site around the 10th century the area was donated to the Knights Hospitaller who protected pilgrims travelling on the Portuguese route of the Camino de Santiago While the monastery has not been used for religious purposes in centuries—more recently it served as a holiday home for the Ramos Pinto family well-known winemakers in the region—the church next door to celebrate the opening of the Livraria Lello Foundation the French artist JR installed 1,500 portraits he took of Porto residents on a busy city street and near a train station onto the church square The project drew people to the foundation’s opening to see if their photograph had been used and has called journalists who reported on the matter "enemies of the people" The snap elections were called in the wake of a corruption scandal that saw the prime minister resign after investigators searching his chief of staff's office found €75,800 stuffed in bookshelves A guest sits in the renovated monastery and experiences Diana Policarpo's sound installation Courtesy Livraria Lello Foundation news17 September 2024How a Portuguese sanctuary for pilgrims became a modern-day haven for the artsPorto’s 600-year-old Leça do Balio monastery has found a new lease of life as cultural centre news23 February 2022The government-backed platform that aims to bring Portuguese contemporary art to the rest of the worldArtverbium founded by former Christie's staffer Lorena Duran will show established and emerging artists in a series of exhibitions