College of the Marists

College of the Marists (Colégio dos Maristas) is a former mansion in Porto, also known as the Palacete Boaventura Rodrigues de Sousa. It stands at Avenida da Boavista 1354, in the civil parish of Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos. It was built at the end of the 19th century as the home of a wealthy emigrant and served as a school for much of the 20th century.

Who was Boaventura Rodrigues de Sousa?

Boaventura Rodrigues de Sousa was born on 20 October 1848 in Vairão, in the municipality of Vila do Conde. He emigrated to Brazil and made his fortune in Santos. Back in Portugal, he chose to build himself an impressive residence in Porto, in an area that was becoming fashionable among the well-off.

When and how was the mansion built?

A request dated 9 April 1895, with an accompanying drawing, survives in the Porto Municipal Archive. The house was built in the last years of the 19th century, most likely between that request and 1899. The year 1899 appears on paintings signed by A. Mello in the music room. The architect is not documented; the name most often suggested is Joel da Silva Pereira.

How has the building been used?

• 1900–1910 – main residence of the Rodrigues de Sousa family.
• 1910–1926 – the building stood empty.
• until 1958 – home to the Colégio de Nossa Senhora do Rosário.
• 1959–1991 – a school run by the Marists, which gave the building its current name.

After the school left, the bank BES (Banco Espírito Santo) acquired and restored the mansion. In 2016 it was sold to IPOV, a vehicle inspection company.

Heritage status

In 2013 the building was classified as a Monument of Public Interest (Monumento de Interesse Público), one of the forms of heritage protection in Portugal. The listing recognises the value of its architecture and interiors, including the painted decoration in the music room.

Is it worth a look?

It is worth seeing from the outside if you are walking along Avenida da Boavista, one of Porto's main avenues. It is a good example of a house built by an emigrant returning from Brazil, and of how such residences changed roles over the decades: family home, schools, then commercial use. Because a company operates in the building today, do not expect a classic attraction with tickets and interior tours. Check in advance whether access is possible.

Frequently asked questions

Where is College of the Marists? At Avenida da Boavista 1354 in Porto, in the parish of Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos.

Is it still a school? No. The Marist school operated here from 1959 to 1991. Today the building belongs to a private company.

What is the building's other name? Palacete Boaventura Rodrigues de Sousa, after its first owner.

Is the building protected? Yes. It has been a Monument of Public Interest since 2013.

Who built it? Boaventura Rodrigues de Sousa commissioned it. The designer is not certain; Joel da Silva Pereira is the name usually mentioned.

Can you go inside? It does not operate as a museum. Visitors usually admire it from the street.