Frontão dos Paços do Concelho

Frontão dos Paços do Concelho preserves part of Porto’s old municipal centre, near the former Praça Nova. Its granite structure once crowned the baroque Palácio dos Monteiro Moreira, designed by António Pereira in the early eighteenth century. The triangular fronton carried Porto’s coat of arms, carved by Manoel Luiz, above the palace façade.

The building began as Monteiro Moreira’s private residence before becoming the city’s municipal seat. From its balcony, the liberal movement was proclaimed and D. Pedro IV announced the constitutional charter. Demolition in 1916 opened Avenida dos Aliados, while surviving elements moved through Porto’s changing streets and gardens. The coat of arms reached the Palácio de Cristal, and the statue O Porto later returned near its original setting.

O Porto shows a Roman-style warrior holding a spear beside a dragon, both carved in granite. João de Sousa Alão and João da Silva created the figure as a guardian of Porto. Fernando Távora’s arrangement directs it towards Terreiro da Sé, linking the sculpture with the city’s historic core.