Casa de Serralves

Casa de Serralves is a villa in Porto regarded as the most notable Art Deco building in Portugal. It stands in the middle of Serralves Park and belongs to one of the country's most visited cultural institutions. If you want a Porto stop that combines architecture, art and a walk among gardens, this is a strong choice.

What is Casa de Serralves?

Serralves is a cultural institution made up of a contemporary art museum, a park and a villa. Each is an example of a different strand of 20th-century architecture: Modernism, Art Deco and contemporary design. The museum was designed by Álvaro Siza Vieira and is the second most visited museum in Portugal. The villa, Casa de Serralves, now serves as the foundation's head office and as an extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art, hosting temporary exhibitions.

Who built the villa, and when?

The villa and its surrounding park were commissioned by the 2nd Count of Vizela, Carlos Alberto Cabral (1895–1968), on the site of his family's former summer residence on the outskirts of Porto. Cabral favoured the artistic currents of the 1920s to the 1940s, especially French architecture and decorative arts. A trip to the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris encouraged that taste.

Construction ran from 1925 to 1944. The design is attributed to the French architect Charles Siclis (1889–1944), who shaped the overall concept. José Marques da Silva (1869–1947), the architect behind Porto's São Bento station and São João Theatre, developed, modified and carried it out. The building blends neoclassical, romantic and Art Deco elements.

Who designed the interiors?

Many leading European designers contributed: Ruhlmann, René Lalique, Edgar Brandt, Ivan da Silva Bruhns, Jules Leleu, Jean Perzel and Raymond Subes. As a result the villa also records French decorative design of the first half of the 20th century.

Visiting and opening hours

The villa sits inside Serralves Park in Porto, at coordinates 41.1595 N, 8.6564 W. According to OpenStreetMap, opening hours are:

• October to March: Mon–Fri 10:00–18:00, Sat, Sun and public holidays 10:00–19:00,
• April to September: Mon–Fri 10:00–19:00, Sat, Sun and public holidays 10:00–20:00.

Check hours and ticket prices on the Serralves website before you go, as they can change.

Frequently asked questions

Is Casa de Serralves the same as the Serralves Museum? No. They are separate buildings in one complex. The museum is by Álvaro Siza Vieira, while the villa is an Art Deco work built between 1925 and 1944.

Who designed the villa? The design is attributed to Charles Siclis, and José Marques da Silva developed and built it.

What is the villa used for today? It is the foundation's head office and an extension of the Museum of Contemporary Art, used for temporary exhibitions.

How long did construction take? Work ran from 1925 to 1944.

Is it Portugal's most important Art Deco building? It is considered the most notable example of Art Deco in the country.