Alcáçovas Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Mercês

Location

Alcáçovas Palace stands in the urban fabric of Lisbon, in the area known as Mercês. Its main facade extends along Rua da Cruz dos Poiais, from the corner with Travessa da Arrochela, and is noticeable in the urban layout up to an area near the end of Rua Eduardo Coelho. Its position naturally integrates it into the central city environment.

Architectural Features and Symbolism

This palace presents architecture that evokes the 17th century, with a sober appearance and a continuous structure that defines its character. One of its most distinctive elements is the large stone gate, a 20th-century addition, which extends for much of the facade's height. At its top, this gate is crowned by an open tympanum where the coat of arms of the Counts of Alcáçovas is found, a piece of heraldry displaying the arms of the Henriques and Lancastres families, symbolizing their lineage and history.

A Stage of Transformations

Throughout its existence, Alcáçovas Palace has witnessed various adaptations of use, demonstrating its versatility and how it integrated into the city's cultural and economic life. In the 1980s, it served as the headquarters for a significant music publisher and, later, hosted an art gallery, functioning as a space for exhibition and cultural dissemination. These successive transformations underscore its continuous relevance in the Lisbon landscape.

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