Places
Rainha D.ª Amélia Velodrome of MNSR
Joaquim da Costa Sampaio / Fernando Távora
1795 / 2001
Saturday + Sunday
Porto Digital
Regular Visits
Tours
Sat 10h30, Paula Oliveira (Conservator at the Museum) / Sun 10h30, Architects Carlos Martins e Marta Rocha – Visit to the Museum Reserves
Maximum 20 people per visit
No reservation required; first-come, first-served
Wheelchair access
Photography allowed
Description
Inaugurated in 1894, the Maria Amélia velodrome, of which there are still significant remains, was a response to the growing enthusiasm for cycling among Porto’s elite at the end of the 19th century. Intended for racing these ‘crazy, fast machines’, with a track that allowed them to cover one kilometre in three laps, this was one of the city’s first sports venues and also included two tennis courts. Opened in what was then a small forest and vegetable garden, given by King Carlos to the Associação Velo Club do Porto , the velodrome was developed at the back of the neoclassical Carrancas Palace, built in 1795 by the Morais e Castro family and which, acquired in 1861 by King Pedro V, became the official residence of the royal family when they travelled to Porto. Later, in 1940, it was converted into the Soares dos Reis National Museum. The name of the velodrome comes from the name of King Carlos I’s wife: Queen Dona Amélia. (Graça Correia and Joel Cleto, OHP’22)
Location
Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro (in front of Rua de Adolfo Casais Monteiro, 47)
Directions: Google Maps / Apple Maps
Public Transport
Bus: STCP 200, 201, 207, 208, 302, 501, 507, 601 – Hosp St António