GAVICHOS MANOR HOUSE

Category: Civil Architecture > Museum

District: Coimbra > Montemor-o-Velho > Tentúgal

Location

Solar dos Gavichos is located in Tentúgal, a village belonging to the municipality of Montemor-o-Velho. Situated within the context of this picturesque settlement, the building is integrated into the local urban fabric, reflecting its historical presence and the importance it held in the region.

The Heritage of a Noble Family

The history of Solar dos Gavichos is intrinsically linked to the family that gave it its name and, before that, to the Couceiros. The Couceiros were one of Tentúgal's oldest noble lineages, with records of their presence in the village since the reigns of D. Fernando and D. João I. The surname Gavicho was adopted by one of the branches of the Couceiros upon inheriting an entail established in 1630 by Jorge Lopes Gavicho, a prominent and wealthy figure in the region at the time.

The building, already described in 1628 as a noble two-story house with an estate, was erected in phases in the mid-17th century, achieving its current configuration around 1687. Throughout the 19th century, the interior of the Solar underwent significant modifications, particularly in its ceilings, which were covered with stucco, and in the rear part, where a new section was added to the original construction.

Architectural Features

Solar dos Gavichos features a classical two-story architecture. The main facade is notable for its symmetrical composition, displaying nine windows. On the upper floor, seven of these windows have balconies, while on the ground floor, the openings are smaller and slightly set back from the original house's alignment.

Two higher sections flank the facade: to the south is the Chapel of São Jorge, and to the north, the former main entrance, now disused.

The Private Chapel

Adjacent to Solar dos Gavichos is a chapel dedicated to São Jorge, built in 1687 by Manuel Lopes Couceiro Gavicho. This chapel, of modest dimensions and a square plan, featured a sacristy and a bell tower with a bell, although these elements are no longer present.

Formerly, it had two entrances, one interior, providing direct access from the Solar, and another exterior. The interior entrance has, however, been sealed. In its past, the chapel housed a rich gilded altarpiece with painted panels, an image of Saint George fighting the dragon, and several other 17th-century stone images. The interior windows that allowed the lords of the house to attend mass from the Solar are currently bricked up. Historical documents refer to processions with Saint George on horseback, supported by the entail, and the record of a single baptism in the chapel, which occurred in 1786. Currently, its interior is devoid of artistic elements, but its presence maintains the connection to the past and the traditions of the family that inhabited the Solar.

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