The Palace of Porto Trade Association Headquarters, the Arabian Room
Salão Árabe
Porto, Portugal
Commercial Association of Porto
About Porto Stock Exchange Palace, Porto
Associação Comercial do Porto
1842
Architects: Joaquim da Costa Lima (1840–1860), Gustavo Adolpho Gonçalves e Sousa (1860–1879), Thomaz Augusto Soller (1879–1883), José de Macedo Araújo Júnior (1883–1890), Joel da Silva Pereira (1894–1899) and José Marques da Silva (1889–1910); Painting and sculptures: Luigi Maninin, António Ramalho, António Carneiro, Veloso Salgado, Marques de Oliveira, Soares dos Reis, Eduardo Malta, Teixeira Lopes and Henrique Medina, among others.
During the siege of Porto (1832-33) by Miguelist Army led by absolutist Prince Miguel (1802-66) against the Liberal troops of his brother Prince Pedro (1798-1834), S. Francisco convent was burnt only surviving the church. Porto Trade Association’s headquarters was erected over these ruins. Queen Maria II issued the law concession letter of 19th June 1841 to order the establishment of the Stock Exchange and the Trial Court. The solemn placing of the first stone took place on 6 October 1842.
The Arabian Room (1862–1880) is considered as the most emblematic of all the Palace’s rooms, embodying the Neo-Moorish art in Portugal. Inspired by the Palace of Alhambra in Granada combines the Arab ornament grammar and the fertile imagination of the engineer/architect, Gustavo Adolpho Gonçalves e Sousa. The Hall of Nations is decorated with the national shield and the coat of arms of the countries with which Portugal had the closest ties of friendship and trade; consolidating the idea that the greatness of a nation, country or region is not a singular effort, but one of union, strength and the cooperation among people of different nations.
"The Palace of Porto Trade Association Headquarters, the Arabian Room" in "Sharing History", Museum With No Frontiers, 2024. https://sharinghistory.museumwnf.org/database_item.php?id=monuments;AWE;pt;4;en
MWNF Working Number: PT 005
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