Igreja de São Lourenço, Porto

Known as Igreja dos Grilos, this is the Church and College of São Lourenço, a church-and-convent complex in Porto. It is a National Monument. The façade bears the arms of Frei Luís Álvaro de Távora, whose gifts helped pay for the work and who lies buried here.

Jesuits began construction in 1577, using Mannerism, a late-Renaissance approach that favours theatrical design. Their plan met strong opposition over the school they intended to establish. Free lessons soon made that college highly successful.

After the Jesuits were expelled in 1759, the buildings went to the University of Coimbra and later to barefoot Augustinian friars. During Porto’s siege, liberal troops took over the convent; Almeida Garrett served with the Academic Battalion based here. Porto’s major seminary has owned the complex since 1834.