In 2020, a tragic fire destroyed the historic Seminário de Santa Teresinha. Founded in 1928, this seminary was a notable landmark in the quaint village of Felgueiras, near Porto. Owned by the Congregation of the Mission, it was a training hub for Vincentian priests from its establishment until 1967.
In 1967, the building stopped functioning as a college and was converted into a retirement home, making good use of its many rooms and wide corridors. Unfortunately, the retirement home closed in 1984, and the property was sold to private owners. Although there were plans to renovate it into a hotel, these were hindered by bureaucratic delays and never materialized.
Next to the former seminary is a neo-Manueline chapel, which is the easiest way to access the ruins of Seminário de Santa Teresinha. Despite part of its roof having collapsed, the stunning neo-Gothic arches are still visible. The elevated choir opposite the main altar retains its balustrade. While most stained-glass windows have been damaged or destroyed, a few near the altar remain intact. The main altar, two side altars, and the pews, all made from Brazilwood, still grace the chapel. The bright red tint of the hardwood is still noticeable, but rain seeping through the broken roof is accelerating the decay.
From the back of the chapel, you can reach part of the college, but you’ll need to navigate through rubble and broken glass. There’s an opening on the side that leads to a set of external stairs, which take you to the second floor. Here, some sleeping quarters, a kitchen, and other rooms survived the fire. However, the corridor on the second floor ends abruptly where the building collapsed. The college once had long hallways named after saints, and you can still see the plaque for “Corredor de S. Vicente” clearly among the rubble through an opening on the second floor.
