Chapel of Souls (Santa Catarina) in Porto: almost 16,000 azulejos

Updated on October 18, 2026

The Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas, or Santa Catarina chapel) stands at Rua de Santa Catarina 428, in the heart of Porto's shopping district. Its side and rear walls are covered with about 15,900 blue-and-white azulejos telling the lives of Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Catherine. The exterior can be seen free of charge at any hour, and the chapel is free to enter during its opening hours. The chapel dates from 1801, but its azulejos are much more recent: they were laid in 1929 to designs by Eduardo Leite and made in Lisbon by the Viúva Lamego factory. The whole covers about 360 m². It is a working place of worship, not a museum.

Highlights

The façade panels

Very detailed blue-and-white scenes framed by rocaille motifs read like a sacred comic strip. The best overall view is from the other side of the street.

The chapel in the street

It is squeezed between the buildings of Rua de Santa Catarina, between the Café Majestic and the Bolhão. Its small size comes as a surprise: many people stumble upon it in passing.

The interior

The nave is simple, with a Baroque altarpiece and gilded altars. The visit takes about ten minutes; the chapel is still used for services, so keep quiet.

Practical info

Tips

Come early in the morning or at dusk to photograph the façade without the groups. The area is busy and pedestrian: watch your belongings. The chapel takes a quarter of an hour: fit it in between the Bolhão market and Rua Santa Catarina, both close by. Hours noted in October 2026, to be confirmed on the spot as they vary with services.