Torre de D. Pedro Pitoes, Porto

The Tower of D. Pedro Pitões (Torre de D. Pedro Pitões/Torre da Cidade) is a former-medieval fortification situated in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, that protected the northern Portuguese city of Porto.HistoryThe tower was "rediscovered" in 1940 in the Largo do Açougue during the course of the demolition of various buildings circling the Sé Cathedral of Porto, and was reconstructed near its original site.Between 1940 and 1960, the Gabinete de História da Cidade (Porto History Cabinet) was installed in the building, resulting in its reference as the Torre da Cidade (City Tower).In 1974, the building became the seat of the Centro Cultural e Social da Sé (Sé Social and Cultural Centre).Architect Manuel Magalhães directed the rehabilitation of the tower in 1997, as part of the urban pilot project for the Bairro da Sé.Following this, in 1998, a tourist post under the concession of Porto Tours was opened onsite, based on a protocol between the Associação de Turismo do Porto (Porto Tourism Association) and the Câmara Municipal do Porto.ArchitectureThe tower is situated in middle of the city, implanted on a slope. The principal facade is oriented to the Largo D. Pedro V', laterally to the access ramp of Terreiro da Sé. Perpendicular to the northern facade of the tower is a residential building, addorsed to it on the other side is the Arco de São Sebastião (St. Sebastian Arch), consisting of two arches with central column. To the north and west are residential and commercial buildings of three- to four-storeys, and to the east the group that includes the Sé Cathedral and Episcopal Palace.