Programmatic pillar Identity — Lived territories

This route proposes a critical reading of the social and territorial transformations in a significant area of the city of Porto. Starting from the old São João de Deus District – an unavoidable reference point in the history of popular housing, now only partially preserved – the route follows the dynamics of change that have been redefining this territory. Along the way, which crosses the interior of the neighborhood and its surroundings to the Nau Vitória and Rua da Ranha area, one observes the vestiges of local daily life and the signs of urban reconfiguration, resulting from recent interventions and changes in mobility patterns. The crossing of the railway line highlights its historical role in the industrial development of the area and its connection with the city. The arrival point – the old Copper Factory (popular name of the Portuguese Copper Company, founded in 1947 and closed in 1998), once one of the most important steel complexes in the country and now transformed into a retail park – confirms the transition from a productive territory to a new logic of consumption and services. Throughout the journey, the main drivers of this transformation will be highlighted, with a special focus on deindustrialization, functional reconversion, and the challenges of urban planning, inviting reflection on the dynamics that shape the contemporary city.