Palace of the Counts of Vimieiro

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Tourist Attraction

District: Évora > Arraiolos > Vimieiro

Location

The Palace of the Counts of Vimieiro is located in the small village of Vimieiro, which is part of the municipality of Arraiolos, in the heart of the Alentejo region. It stands in a strategic mid-slope position, on the edge of the consolidated urban center, allowing it to stand out in the landscape. From its former estate, one can enjoy expansive views over the gentle slopes of the Alentejo plain, characterized by cork and holm oak woodlands, which define the natural surroundings of this historic manor.

Historical and Cultural Legacy

The history of the Palace dates back to the 16th century, although it underwent a significant phase of reconstruction and expansion in the 18th century. It was the residence of the nobility connected to the Counts of Vimieiro and played a significant role in the region's cultural and literary life during the 18th century, becoming a hub for intellectual exchange and dynamism. This historical dimension gives it a particular significance in the Alentejo heritage.

Architecture and Gardens

The palace features an architecture that reflects the superposition of different eras, combining Renaissance, Mannerist, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements. Its main structure, with two rectangular-plan bodies and two floors, displays facades marked by robust granite stonework pillars and framed openings. The entrance to the old, walled estate is through an imposing Baroque gate, dated 1770.

The gardens, once recreational spaces, reveal Renaissance features in the Cistern Courtyard, with its rhomboid flowerbeds and continuous benches, and Baroque characteristics, visible in the ornamented elements and the boxwood structure that outlined the paths. Standing out is the Obelisk Fountain, a striking element approximately nine meters high. Composed of a circular basin and a pedestal with figures spouting water, topped by a pyramid with a pinecone at its apex, this unique fountain enriched the landscape and demonstrates the mastery of the era in integrating water and sculpture into outdoor spaces.

Evolving Heritage

Despite undergoing a period of rehabilitation and presenting some alterations to its original layout due to later constructions, the Palace of the Counts of Vimieiro retains its significant historical-cultural value. It is an example of the region's stately architecture and continues to be a place of interest for those seeking to understand the grandeur and noble life of bygone eras in the Alentejo, being classified as a Property of Municipal Interest.

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