Largo Amor de Perdição

Interesting facts

1. 1

   The square is built on the site of the former Relação prison, which held famous Portuguese cultural figures.

2. 2

   The name commemorates a tragic romance novel written by Camilo Castelo Branco while he was a prisoner in the neighboring building.

3. 3

   The Campo dos Mártires da Pátria honors the twelve liberal martyrs executed by the absolutist regime in 1817.

4. 4

   The square sits directly in front of the Portuguese Centre of Photography, a building that functioned as a jail until 1974.

Overview

Largo Amor de Perdição is a public square in Porto located adjacent to the former Cadeia da Relação, now the Portuguese Centre of Photography. The square takes its name from Camilo Castelo Branco’s 19th-century novel, 'Amor de Perdição,' as the author was imprisoned in the adjacent building. It is situated on the Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, a historic site marking the location where liberal activists were executed in 1817. The square features a notable statue of the writer Camilo Castelo Branco. Its layout provides an elevated vantage point over the lower levels of the Cordoaria district. The area serves as a transition space between the judicial, literary, and historical hubs of the city.

Insider tips

• Combine your visit with the Portuguese Centre of Photography for context on the area's prison history.

• Observe the architectural transition between the 18th-century prison facade and the surrounding modern urban square.