Known across borders for its “jesuits”, nowadays Santo Tirso has much more to offer than the renowned convent pastry. Located on the banks of the river Ave, Santo Tirso grew around the former monastery of São Bento, founded by the Benedictines in the 8th century, and has known how to reinvent itself without forgetting its origins.
Because it all started around the river, it is from the banks of the Ave that Santo Tirso wants to make itself known to those who visit the Municipality. With the riverfront renovated, it is possible to walk, run, ride a bike or enjoy an urban beach in a setting that calls for communion with nature.

It is also by the river and the São Bento Monastery that visitors can find the headquarters of the International Museum of Contemporary Sculpture, a building designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winners Siza Vieira and Souto de Moura. Unique in the country, this open-air museum consists of 57 sculptures by national and international artists, spread throughout the city.

But this is not the only example of the city's commitment to art and modernity. Another highlight is the cultural quarter of Fábrica de Santo Thyrso.

For decades, the Fábrica de Fiação e Tecidos de Santo Thyrso was one of the most emblematic textiles located at Vale do Ave region. In this space, full of symbolism, an important process of urban regeneration is now being carried out, giving rise to a cultural and creative quarter now called Fábrica de Santo Thyrso. Different projects fill this space seeking to make it simultaneously a place for work, business, experimentation and innovation, culture, enjoyment and leisure.