Built in the grounds of the former Lóios Convent, on the line of the medieval wall, and occupying the entire south side of Praça da Liberdade (Liberty Square), this building was called the Palácio das Cardosas (Cardosas Palace) since it belonged to the daughters of a merchant of Porto named Cardoso. The horizontal extension of the palace facade is accentuated by the rhythm created by the large number of windows with sills and balconies. Its compositional balance was only altered to accommodate the facade of the Vitália Pharmacy, designed in a modernist style in 1932 by Manuel Marques (1890-1956) and Amoroso Lopes.