Residence of Águas Férreas

The Residence of Águas Férreas is a residence in the civil parish of Cedofeita, Santo Ildefonso, Sé, Miragaia, São Nicolau e Vitória, in the municipality of Porto, in the Portuguese district of Porto.HistoryThe building was constructed in the 18th century. The name águas Férreas appeared, when in 1784 they discovered a sulphurous hot spring that originated a spa located at the beginning of Rua de Águas Férreas, starting at Rua do Melo. The area was ceded for public use by the municipal council who ordered the construction of a fountain 1804, after tests of quality.The historian Joaquim Pedro de Oliveira Martins resided in the home (who directed construction of the railroad between Póvoa de Varzim and Vila Nova de Famalicão) and was the site of encounters of the Portuguese Geração de 70, a group of philosophers, political activists, literary scholars and social movers. Among them were the personalities Antero Quental, Guerra Junqueiro, Rodrigues de Freitas, Eça de Queirós and Ramalho Ortigão.In 1988, the Centro de Formação de Jornalistas (Journalism Training Centre) proposed to the Secretária de Estado da Cultura (Secretary-of-State for Culture) that they install in the then Casa da Pedra the Museu da Imprensa (Press Museum). In October of the following year, the residence was sold by David Manuel Viana da Silva e Sousa to the current property-owner.