Musealisation of the Rio de Vila gallery

In this edition of Sebentas d’Obra, we reveal one of Porto’s hidden rivers, the Rio de Vila. An examination of the city’s map alongside its water network clearly shows how urban development was shaped by watercourses, particularly the rivers and tributaries of the Douro. The Rio de Vila held particular significance as it marked the boundary between the Sé and the Jewish quarter and connected the upper area of the former City Hall to the Ferreira Borges Market and the Douro River at Praça da Ribeira. It was a bustling river, crossed by bridges and lined with commercial activity along Rua das Flores.

However, due to intense urban activity, it became a repository for sewage and industrial waste, leading to its canalisation and conversion into a street in the 19th century, resulting in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira and the construction of a tunnel to protect the river’s path. Today, following a heritage restoration approach, Águas do Porto has initiated the musealisation of the Rio de Vila, bringing these once-hidden infrastructures to public attention.

The winning project, by Atelier 15, features accessible public entrances from São Bento Station and Largo de São Domingos. The technical team, led by Eng. Jorge Nunes da Silva and Eng.ª Raquel Dias and supported by Eco Referência, proposed the consolidation of the centuries-old masonry tunnel structure, enabling the planned new openings. The musealisation includes interactive devices narrating the river’s history, uncovered by historian Dr. Manuel Real, employing advanced technologies such as portable robot video inspection and high-definition laser scanning, essential for obtaining a precise understanding of the tunnel’s extent and condition.