Palace of the Counts of Almeida Araújo

Category: Civil Architecture > Small Palace

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Queluz e Belas

Location

Situated in the locality of Queluz and Belas, in the municipality of Sintra, the Palacete dos Condes de Almeida Araújo is found in an urban plain environment. Its position is noteworthy, rising on a plane slightly set back from the main road, isolated by its own walls which give it a distinct presence. Its location is particularly relevant as it is situated opposite the well-known Queluz National Palace, establishing a visual and historical dialogue with this important royal monument.

Neoclassical Architecture

The Palacete dos Condes de Almeida Araújo is a significant example of Neoclassical architecture in Portugal. Conceived in the late 18th century, around 1795, and attributed to architect José da Costa e Silva, this building is distinguished by its parallelepiped plan and volume, with facades that denote notable regularity and homogeneity. Its construction is covered by careful ashlar facing, sometimes combined with painted plaster, which gives it a solid and harmonious appearance. One of its most unique characteristics is its inspiration from the Petit Trianon in Versailles, something rare in Portuguese architectural production of the first half of the 19th century, conferring upon it added artistic and historical value.

On the main elevation, facing south, a straight lintel portal stands out, flanked by pilasters with decorated shafts. Above, on the upper floor, a sculptural composition in relief is visible, including the coat of arms of the Carvalho family, adorned with garlands and reclining figures, a work attributed to Francisco Leite Leal Garcia.

The Interiors and Their Decoration

The heart of the Palacete is its central vestibule, oval in plan, covered by an also oval dome pierced by a skylight that allows natural light to enter. This grandiose space not only serves as a distribution point to the various rooms of the house through eight curved-cloth doors, but also as an element of great aesthetic and decorative value. The wall surfaces and the covering of the vestibule display rich ornamental painting, in a Pompeian revival and Neoclassical style.

The decorative program extends to the walls and ceilings of various rooms, with mythological and martial themes, such as armouries and trophies, which transport the visitor to the atmosphere of the era. In certain areas, this painting is complemented by tile panels, of the D. Maria and Neoclassical type, which can also be observed in the corridors, including those leading to the underground spaces.

History of a Noble Residence

The construction of this palace was driven by D. Henrique José de Carvalho e Melo, the second Marquis of Pombal, who in 1795, after a fire at the Ajuda Palace, needed a residence in Queluz to settle with his wife, D. Maria Antónia Violante de Meneses, during the periods he served as chamberlain. The construction, although initiated, was interrupted in 1807 with the departure of the royal family to Brazil, leaving the palace incomplete and, for decades, neglected.

It was only in the second half of the 19th century that the property experienced a new cycle, being acquired and successively inhabited by noble families, such as the Counts of Almeida and Araújo, who gave it the name by which it is known today, and later by the Dukes of Palmela. In 1978, the palace became the property of the Portuguese State, maintaining its residential function as an official residence.

The Garden and the Coach Houses

In addition to the main body of the palace, the built complex includes a coach house pavilion, connected by a rectangular atrium. This pavilion, also rectangular in plan and with four-pitched roofs, has perfectly rounded arch doorways, harmonizing with the architectural language of the main palace. On the opposite side of this structure, a carefully manicured boxwood garden develops, meticulously trimmed, which is organized along a longitudinal axis punctuated by small ponds. This outdoor space invites quiet observation, complementing the grandeur of the palace's architecture.

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