The Church of San Lorenzo was built in 1577 by the monks of the order of Jesuits, and is a short distance from the Cathedral of Porto. In the architecture of the building combines two styles: mannerism and Baroque. The construction of the temple was carried out by the donations of Church members. Among them was fray Luis Alvaro de Tavora, who is buried on the Church grounds. The Church of San Lorenzo is also called Igreja-doshas-Grilos. There is a tradition that the Church has received this name because of the terrain Grilo, where profits Jesuit monks.

The Church and monastery of San Lorenzo was built against the wishes of the municipality and the population. However, the followers of St. Ignatius of Loyola, who was the founder of the society of Jesus finally got his way and built a coveted school Seminary in which the teaching was free, which brought her great popularity. The construction of the Seminary was in charge of Balthazar Alvares.

Due to the fact that in 1759 were abolished all religious orders by order of the Marquis de Pombal square, the Jesuit order left Portugal and the Church was transferred to the University of Coimbra. Soon the building passed into the hands of the monks of the order of St. Augustine, and was in their possession from 1780 to 1832.

It was impressive to see the facade of the Church and the dome of the tower.