Companhia Industrial de Fundição - Headquarters

Since at least 1905, Paiva & Irmão (and later CIF) remained at Rua de São João, numbers 17-21. This location allowed it to be very close to Cais da Ribeira, where essential products arrived, such as coal, mostly imported from England until after the First World War (when national production began to consolidate), and iron ore, extracted in mines in the north of the country. On the other hand, it was very close to Ramal da Alfândega (the Alfândega Railway Line), which favoured not only access to raw materials, but also the flow of products.
The exploitation of the Douro river axis also made it possible to reduce the distance from the factory, located in Foz do Sousa (Gondomar), to the headquarters, located in Oporto. The Douro River, an important route until at least the 1950s, shortened distances and allowed the rapid movement of people, goods and raw materials.
The building was converted into the Carris Porto Ribeira Hotel, which opened in 2012.
The location of the headquarters in the city of Oporto, in an important and historic commercial artery of the city, has strengthened business relations and favourably positioned the company in the market.