Solar de Torrezelo-->Torrezelo Manor

Category: Civil Architecture > Manor House

District: Guarda > Seia > Torroselo

Location:

The Solar de Torrezelo stands at the edge of the urban cluster of Torroselo, in the Union of Parishes of Torroselo and Folhadosa, municipality of Seia (Guarda district). It is located on flat terrain, surrounded by walls punctuated by trapezoidal pillars topped with urns, and borders rustic properties at the back.

In the immediate vicinity, the landscape opens up to the slopes of the Serra da Estrela, offering visitors a serene perspective of the neighboring valleys and meadows. The surroundings remain rural, with a layout of narrow streets that reinforces the traditional character of the village.

Origin and Historical Value:

It is conjectured that the oldest part of the manor dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, having been extended around 1930 by the Albuquerque Brandão family. The original late-Baroque construction was complemented with influences from the style Português Suave, especially visible in the upper-floor veranda balconies.

In 1976, a proposal for classification as a Property of Public Interest was registered, approved in July 1980 by the Directorate-General for Cultural Affairs. Although the process expired in 2012, the building retains its status as a local heritage landmark, testifying to the continuity of the noble house linked to the position of capitão-mor of Torroselo.

Architecture and Atmosphere:

The palatial house develops on an L-shaped plan, with a hipped roof and two main facades divided by pilasters. In the east-facing body, the curvilinear pediment without a base stands out, interrupting the cornice, and a front staircase leading to the noble floor. The doors and windows alternate between straight lintel and depressed arch, creating an original visual rhythm.

The attached chapel, with a simple rectangular plan and a four-pitched roof, displays a straight-lintel portal ornamented with vegetal motifs and a niche with an image of the Virgin, flanked by armillary spheres. The veranda balconies and the counter-curved molding reinforce the sense of transition between the rural environment and the palatial dignity of the ensemble.

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