São Cipriano Manor

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Braga > Guimarães > Tabuadelo

Location:

The Paço de São Cipriano stands in the parish of Tabuadelo and São Faustino, in the municipality of Guimarães, nestled in a tranquil rural setting. The property is surrounded by agricultural fields, orchards, and a small wood where large trees are noticeable.

Around the palace, there extends a porch with ashlar walls and merlons that gently dominates the Minho landscape. Its proximity to Guimarães makes this estate a peaceful retreat, without losing contact with the historical houses of the region.

History and Memory

Its origins date back to the 15th century, with the first reference dated July 22, 1415, when the Sottomayor family took possession of this stately home. Over the centuries, the palace was expanded and adapted, retaining traces of the primitive construction, such as the "Old Kitchen" which is still preserved today.

In the 18th century, Domingos Gonçalves Cibrão (1704-1798) promoted restoration works and rebuilt the chapel dedicated to Saint Anthony, which preserves altarpieces and painted wooden ceilings. Later, in the 19th century, the wealthy João da Costa Santiago de Carvalho e Souza, with the probable intervention of the architect Nicola Bigaglia, extended the lateral wings and gave the complex its current appearance, bringing together different stylistic marks.

Architecture and Garden

The U-shaped plan centers on a crenellated ashlar tower, flanked by facades with continuous balconies supported by Tuscan colonnettes. The windows feature Neo-Manueline frames, in polylobed arches, and the rendered wall sections contrast with the granite stone, creating a play of textures typical of the manor houses of Entre Douro e Minho.

In the inner courtyard, the fountain with a column adorned by dolphin-shaped spouts and topped by Neptune organizes the entrance space. Around it, formal French-inspired gardens display topiary boxwood beds, while an orchard and a vegetable garden at the rear recall the estate's former agricultural life.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paço_de_São_Cipriano

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt