Quinta das Lapas

Category: Nature > Farm

District: Lisboa > Torres Vedras > Lapas Grandes > Maxial e Monte Redondo

Location

Quinta das Lapas is located in Lapas Grandes, within the Monte Redondo e Maxial area, in the municipality of Torres Vedras. This property is situated on the lower slopes of the Serra da Achada, in an environment that, although close to an urban center, maintains an isolated and tranquil character, ideal for those seeking the serenity of the countryside within a short distance of the city.

A Historical Legacy

Classified as a Public Interest Property, Quinta das Lapas represents one of the most significant monuments in Torres Vedras. Its construction began in the late 17th century, by order of Manuel Teles da Silva, the 1st Marquis of Alegrete, and was completed in the 18th century. In the 19th century, the main house was expanded to two floors, maintaining the original design that characterizes its residential civil architecture, a fascinating example of the fusion between Baroque and Neoclassical styles.

Throughout its history, the Quinta was the stage for important royal visits, having hosted monarchs such as King D. João VI, Queen D. Carlota Joaquina, and King D. Carlos I, among other members of the Portuguese royalty.

Architecture and Artistic Details

The palace, of great sobriety, features a U-shaped plan, with service wings that delimit a central quadrangular courtyard, adorned by a garden. The main entrance is marked by an imposing arcade, which incorporates a coat of arms and leads to this courtyard. Inside, the high ceilings with elaborate illusionistic paintings (quadratura) and large coving stand out, as well as the former music room which still retains part of its splendor and period furniture.

One of the most notable elements of the Quinta is its chapel. With a Neoclassical façade and colonnades, its interior holds 18th-century tiles in the chancel, decorated with symbols of the litanies, a testament to the rich Portuguese tile art of the era, signed by the painter António Pereira Rovasco.

The Manorial Gardens and the Natural Environment

The gardens of Quinta das Lapas are a manifestation of the Baroque style, designed in terraces that harmonize different spaces. They are framed by walls featuring panels of early 18th-century tiles, depicting gallant and hunting scenes, interspersed with stone benches. At the center, a quatrefoil-shaped fountain is a highlight.

The complex includes the unique Mermaid's Lake, surrounded by a marble balustrade, from which water flows from multiple fountains. Next to it, a cool house clad in pebble mosaic invites repose. The property extends into a vast woodland, traversed by paths leading to pavilions and small 18th-century chapels. This woodland is rich in plant diversity, with cork oaks, oaks, lime trees, and other exotic species, offering a natural environment inviting discovery and tranquility.

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