In the heart of the historic center, on Rua das Flores, emerged one of the most important institutions in the city of Porto; the Confraternity of Nossa Senhora da Misericórdia founded in March 1499, following the recommendation and appeal of King D. Manuel I to the most important good man in the city. After several decades of existence, the confraternity was installed in the cloister of the Cathedral, and in 1550 on the 24th of June, Rua de Santa Catarina das Flores, opened in 1521, was permanently installed on the new street of the city. dispatch and a Renaissance style church, whose work will last until 1590. The influence of the noble D.Lopo de Almeida, friend of Philip I and defender of the union of the two dynasties, was important.

Little remains of the original temple, the ruin degraded it to the point that it was rebuilt from 1740 onwards based on the opinion of several experts including Nicolau Nasoni. Only the chancel remained of the original temple, the entire arch supporting the high choir and the façade were the work of Nasoni.

The importance of the Misericordia Church in Porto did not lie only in the innovative relationship between the facade and the urban landscape. It expanded to a new concept of a clear and unified interior space, a large rectangular auditorium in which the view of the high altar was totally free for congregational devotional practices, also responding to the new needs of liturgical pastoral, sacramental implemented by ecclesiastical authorities, already engaged in the Reformation. It would serve as an example for a series of churches in Misericórdia do Entre Douro-e-Minho.