Description Santo Tirso

Santo Tirso was originated in the monastery that was constituted by D. Unisco Godiniz in the year of 978.

Known abroad for its “Jesuits”, nowadays Santo Tirso has much more to offer than the renowned conventual sweets. Located on the banks of the River Ave, and having developed from the São Bento Monastery, Santo Tirso has been able to reinvent itself without forgetting its origins.

Because everything started around the river, it is from the banks of the Ave that Santo Tirso wants to make himself known to those who visit the Municipality. With the requalified riverfront, it is possible to stroll, run or ride a bicycle in a setting that appeals to communion with nature.

It is also next to the river and the São Bento Monastery that visitors can find the headquarters of the International Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, a work by architects Siza Vieira and Souto de Moura. Unique in the country, this open-air museum consists of 54 sculptures by national and international artists, spread throughout the city.

But this is not the only example of the city's commitment to art and modernity. Another highlight is the cultural quarter of the Fábrica de Santo Thyrso.

For decades, the Santo Thyrso Spinning and Fabric Factory was one of the most emblematic textiles in Vale do Ave. In this space, full of symbolism, an important process of urban regeneration is now being carried out, which translates into the development of a Cultural and Creative Quarter around the Fashion sector, now called Santo Thyrso Factory. Different projects occupy this space and seek to make it simultaneously, a space for work, business, experimentation and innovation, culture, enjoyment and leisure.