Category: Civil Architecture > House
District: Évora > Évora > Évora > São Mamede, Sé, São Pedro e Santo Antão
Located in the heart of the city of Évora, this building is integrated into the urban fabric of its historic centre, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its central location allows for a deep immersion into the ancient atmosphere of the Alentejo city, surrounded by narrow streets and buildings of great historical value, which bear witness to centuries of life and significant events.
This remarkable building, known by various names that reflect its rich and complex history, is sometimes referred to as the Vasco da Gama Palace Building. It is believed that this was where the famous navigator lived, or at least maintained his residence, during his stay in the Alentejo city, a period of great importance for the history of Portugal.
However, its most well-known and historically resonant designation is that of the Palace of the Inquisition or Former Inquisition Court. Évora was one of the three major centres of the Inquisition in Portugal, and this building served as its court, a place of trials and interrogations that profoundly marked Portuguese society of the time. This phase of its existence imbues the place with particular symbolism, evoking a period of great social and cultural impact on national history.
One of the building's most distinctive and valuable aspects are its mural paintings, which earn it the popular designation of Painted Houses of Évora. These artworks, discovered and restored, are a rare and expressive testimony to the mural decoration of the period. They depict scenes of varied themes, from figurative elements to decorative motifs, and offer insight into the artistic taste and technique of the era. Their presence adds a layer of beauty and intrigue to the site, perhaps contrasting with the austerity that its inquisitorial function might suggest.
The building's architecture, although adapted to its various functions over the centuries, retains characteristic elements of a former palatial residence. The robustness of its walls and the layout of its spaces allow for a glimpse of its original grandeur. Every corner and architectural detail contributes to the narrative of this place, where the daily lives of prominent figures, the severity of inquisitorial justice, and mural artistic expression intersect, making it a point of reflection on the diversity of roles a single space can assume over time.
Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paço_de_Vasco_da_Gama
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 38.57200072207726,-7.908047803064501
Coordinates DMS: 38°34'19.2"N 07°54'29.0"W
Weather Évora
On-duty Pharmacy Évora
