Situated along the banks of the Douro River, Porto is the charming second-largest city in Portugal. This ancient city, built on hills, attracts countless travelers with its colorful architecture, world-renowned port wine, and enchanting riverside scenery. One of the must-visit attractions for tourists is the Sao Bento railway station in the city center. It is said that this magnificent station, like the Lello Bookstore, was one of the scenes referenced by J.K. Rowling when she wrote about Harry Potter.
Sao Bento station is located in the Almeida Garrett Square in downtown Porto, named after the 16th-century Benedictine monastery that once stood here. In 1900, it was laid as the foundation by the Portuguese King Carlos I.
The station was inaugurated in 1916 and designed by the Portuguese architect José Marques da Silva, with a style influenced by French Beaux-Arts, combining ancient Roman and Greek architectural styles, giving the building an orderly and symmetrical appearance, making it even more grand.
Inside the station, the most striking feature is the approximately 20,000 hand-painted blue and white tile panels created by the Portuguese painter Jorge Colaco, taking 11 years to complete. These exquisite murals vividly depict Portuguese historical events, the evolution of transport, and rural scenes, exuding an elegant nostalgic atmosphere.
This blue and white tile art is a unique artistic style specific to Portugal and Spain known as “Azulejo”. Passengers passing through the station cannot help but stop to admire the large blue and white tile murals. Walking around, one might mistake it for a uniquely styled art museum, earning Sao Bento station the reputation as one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.