Almadas Palace, Providers of the House of India

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São Bento

Location

The Almadas Palace, also known as Almada-Carvalhais Palace (Purveyors of the House of India), is located in Largo do Conde Barão, in the parish of Misericórdia, in Lisbon. It should not be confused with another Almada Palace, located in another part of the city.

Classification

This palace has been a national monument since 1920, recognized for its historical and architectural importance.

History

The palace was built in the 16th century by D. Rodrigo (or Rui) Fernandes de Almada, who was the Portuguese consul in Flanders during the reign of D. Manuel I.

Architecture

The building has a rectangular floor plan, with three-story facades. The two upper floors have oriel windows that originally overlooked the river. The main entrance is through a monumental door that gives access to a tunnel covered by a groin vault on pilasters. Inside, there is a raised courtyard, accessible by two staircases. The ground floor stands out for its Renaissance elements.

Paintings and Interventions

In the accesses to the upper floors, vestiges of 18th-century mural painting can still be seen. The building has undergone several interventions over the years, with the most significant occurring during the Baroque period, and also after the 1755 earthquake.

Degradation and Current Use

At the end of the 19th century, the palace began to show signs of degradation. The old garden was transformed into a garage, and one of the floors is currently the headquarters of Atlético Casa Pia.