NEED TO KNOW
LOCATION The Casa da Música is located alongside Rotunda da Boavista, one of Porto’s major roundabouts, Portugal
CONSTRUCTION 1999–2005
ACCESS Open to visitors with tickets
DAYTIME TEMPERATURES
Jan: 48°F (9°C); Apr: 57°F (14°C); Jul: 68°F (20°C); Oct: 61°F (16°C)
The work of the master Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, the Casa da Música provided the city of Porto with a new icon. A concrete cube of mismatched faces and angles, the building is full of imagination. It was a modern rebuke to critics who felt that classical music performances were best enjoyed in the stately, straightforward halls of “Old Europe.” The main performance hall is framed by a huge window, allowing natural light to flood the room. Even those who come here without a ticket feel engaged by the building, walking around its perimeter to admire its unique shape and unusual touches.
Practical Information
Getting There and Around Fly to Francisco Sa Carneiro airport. It is also possible to travel to Porto by train or bus, either from Lisbon, Madrid, or Paris.
When to Go Summer months bring searing conditions, but any visit should be made with the performance schedule in mind.