Like a skyscraper of old times, the soaring 75-meter-tall Torre dos Clérigos (Clérigos Tower) is Porto's most visible landmark, easily visible from various locations around the city. It was constructed as a bell tower, and to this day, the ringing of its 49 bells can be heard throughout the city. The architectural complex of Clerics, the masterpiece of the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, was built in the mid-18th century; it was commissioned by the Brotherhood of the Clergy and consists of the church, the tower and the fraternity house, which is now a museum. The church was one of the first baroque churches in Portugal to adopt a typical baroque elliptical floorplan. The church's main façade is decorated with the rich motifs of shells and floral garlands. Since its construction in 1750, the tower, a huge baroque "beacon," has served as a guide for incoming ships. It must have been quite useful, since Porto was a major trading port.