Places
Alexandre Delmar
Regular Visits
Visits in English
Tours
Sat 11h,16h and Sun 16h, Livraria Lello Foundation Assistants / Sun 11h Arch. António Choupina
Themes
Maximum 40 people per visit
No reservation required; first-come, first-served
Photography not allowed
Description
###NOTICE: For the safety of participants in the Open House Porto 2026, and due to the heat wave and extremely high temperatures, it will not be possible to open the Leça do Balio Monastery and Temple to the public.
A National Monument since 1910 and a historic landmark on the Way of St James, the Monastery of Leça do Balio is now the headquarters of the Livraria Lello Foundation and a vibrant cultural hub. Its regeneration, led by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira and landscape architect Sidónio Pardal, has preserved its architectural authenticity whilst incorporating new spaces for contemplation, art and culture. The built heritage of the Livraria Lello Foundation also includes the ‘Temple’, a unique work by Siza Vieira and an ecumenical space focused on the themes of contemplation and spirituality. The Garden of Thought is the Livraria Lello Foundation’s most recent visitor attraction, the result of a landscape project jointly designed by Siza Vieira and Sidónio Pardal.
With deep roots in history and a vision focused on the future, this tangible heritage is today a space for encounter, reflection and cultural transformation. The Livraria Lello Foundation has taken on the mission of preserving, promoting and sharing this heritage with the world, thereby reinforcing the role of Northern Portugal on the European cultural map.
Fundação Livraria Lello
Location
Rua do Mosteiro, Leça do Balio (Leça do Balio Monastery)
Directions: Google Maps / Apple Maps
Public Transport
Bus: STCP 505 / Unir 5023, 5024, 6003