Palácio das Sereias

Palácio das Sereias, also known as Palácio da Bandeirinha, stands in Porto as an architectural site with several histories. Two large siren sculptures flank the palace’s main doorway.

The Portocarrero family commissioned the residence in the mid-eighteenth century, drawing on its Asturian origins and Portuguese noble standing. The palace occupied part of Porto’s former Jewish quarter. The family’s departure followed the killing of a Portocarrero son during unrest linked to the French invasions. The building then remained closed for more than a century.

The Institute of the Daughters of Charity acquired the property and established Casa Madalena de Canossa as a mission and educational institution. Its work supports children through care and education. The former noble residence retains traces of eighteenth-century architecture while serving a religious and educational purpose for the Canossian community. The Douro lies beyond this historic palace setting. Its change from private residence to mission house connects Porto’s aristocratic past with an enduring work in education and social care. The palace façade preserves Porto’s long layered story.