Lapuz Estate (House with the Manueline window and gardens)

Category: Civil Architecture > Window

District: Coimbra > Montemor-o-Velho > Tentúgal

Location:

Quinta do Lapuz is located in Tentúgal, a village marked by the influence of the Mondego river and the alluvial plains surrounding Montemor-o-Velho. The manor house stands discreetly in a traditional urban area, separated from the street by an old wall that anticipates the discovery of the gardens and the remains of the old building.

In the vicinity, the rural environment approaches the urban fabric, giving the place a singular character: amidst vegetable gardens and dirt tracks, a fragment of Manueline history is revealed in the very center of Tentúgal.

Historical value:

Also known as Casa da Arieira, this residence was commissioned in 1504 by Diogo Pereira de Sampaio, the main figure of the family in that territory. In the 17th century, the main building underwent reconstruction, yet retained the original Manueline window, dated 1507, whose Gothic engraved ensemble and the mention of master João Alvarez bear witness to the dialogue between late Gothic art and the new Renaissance rhythms.

Aesthetics and atmosphere:

Today in ruins, Casa da Arieira shows U-shaped volumes that, despite their degradation, retain traces of multiple-pitch roofs and a series of openings that interact with the dense layers of vegetation. The contrast between aged stone and the green of the gardens creates a photogenic and captivating setting.

In the center of the east facade stands out the double-light Manueline window, separated by a mullion and framed by a decorated ogee arch: in the center, a rhombus supports the Tudor rose: on the jambs, a geometric ornamentation appears that highlights the stylistic quality of the early 16th century. The Gothic inscriptions, now almost erased, invite careful observation.

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