Igreja do Carmo (Carmo Church), Porto

One of the oldest buildings in the historic part of Porto, Igreja do Carmo is actually a combination of two buildings: one dating from the 1600s and the other from the 1700s. Originally, it was built for the Carmelite order of the Roman Catholic Church and was used as a convent. The Baroque style structure features golden woodwork in the interior along with neoclassical tiles. It has a classic façade with a bell tower. The oldest of the two parts of the church – built with a single nave – has seven altars created by Francisco Pereira Campanhã.

The exterior wall of the building is covered in tiles depicting the history of the Carmelite order. Connecting the right and the left side of the structure is a narrow building which measures only one meter in width and was meant originally to keep the monks separated from the nuns of the convent, thus preserving the nuns' chastity and helping the monks keep their vows of celibacy.

Why You Should Visit:
Stunning inside and out; a glorious example of Porto's traditional 'azulejos' (tiles), which are often blue and white and have been handpainted.
The organ is a piece of art and highly unusual, in that there are horizontal horns protruding from the pipe area.

Tip:
Be sure to visit the 1-meter wide house separating the two churches – one of the world's narrowest buildings.