The Portuguese role
The consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes issued visas against his government's instructions.
A museum opened in 2021 about the destruction of Europe's Jews, created by Porto's Jewish community and the first of its kind on the Iberian Peninsula. The display follows a chronology from Jewish life in Europe before the war through the Nazi rise, the ghettos, the camps and the aftermath of liberation, and includes a reconstruction of an Auschwitz dormitory and a memorial room of names. The Portuguese context is a core part of the account: Portugal was neutral in the war and thousands of refugees passed through Lisbon, and the role of the Portuguese consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes, who issued visas against his government's instructions and saved large numbers, is presented here. The museum is near Porto's main synagogue, among the largest on the Iberian Peninsula. The content is heavy by nature and does not suit small children.
The consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes issued visas against his government's instructions.
Neutral Portugal took in thousands of refugees in transit towards the Americas.
A memorial room and an Auschwitz dormitory reconstruction — the hardest part of the visit.
Rua do Algarve, Porto
Porto PlanetariumA planetarium belonging to the University of Porto, on its campus west of the ce3 minutes walk4.2
Porto Botanical GardenA botanical garden belonging to the University of Porto, in the grounds of a nin6 minutes walk4.4
Mercado do Bom SucessoA mid-twentieth-century market hall in Porto's Boavista district, redeveloped in10 minutes walk4.4
The Crystal Palace GardensThe Crystal Palace Gardens are Porto's great green balcony: eight hectares the G14 minutes walk4.5
The Serralves Museum & GardensSerralves is Porto's modern cultural campus: Portugal's first contemporary-art m24 minutes walk4.5Usually yes. The museum runs limited hours and may organise visits within set slots, which differs from most Porto museums where you walk in when you like. Check the official site and arrange before the day.
Not small children. The content deals directly with genocide and the camps and suits teenagers and adults. If you are with a family that includes young children, plan a separate visit.