The Cathedral ended up being isolated after the Terreiro da Sé (Cathedral Yard) was opened up in 1940 on top of Pena Ventosa hill, the sacred acropolis that stands out among the set of buildings making up the city’s historic center. The medieval cathedral complex faces the contemporary Casa dos 24 (The House of the 24), designed by Fernando Távora and built between 1995 and 2002 on the ruins of the medieval Town Hall.