Myrtle Flower Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São Bento

Location

The Flor da Murta Palace is located in the Misericórdia parish, in Lisbon, within the historical area of São Bento. The building occupies a corner at Rua Poço dos Negros and Rua de São Bento, integrating itself into Lisbon's dense urban fabric. Its presence is safeguarded by the Bairro Alto Special Protection Zone and the protection area associated with the Aqueduto das Águas Livres, which underscores its importance in the city's heritage.

A Historical Legacy

The history of this palace dates back to the 16th century, when its original construction took shape. Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, the building underwent several redevelopments that gave it its current Baroque configuration. It was the residence of influential noble families, such as the Pereira Faria, Lords of Alconchel, and, later, the Menezes. The palace also became part of the entailed estate of Terrugem and, through strategic marriages, returned to the possession of the Menezes, who held, among other titles, those of Lords of Lavre and Flor da Murta. Even the 1755 earthquake, which devastated a large part of Lisbon, caused it little damage, attesting to the solidity of its construction.

The Façade and Its Details

Externally, the palace reveals its architectural evolution. The main façade, facing south, stands out with its ground-floor portal, framed by simple stonework. On the noble floor, fifteen balconied windows, adorned with wrought iron railings, add a touch of distinction. A notable feature is the upper floor, added in the 19th century, which introduced breast-height windows. On the southwest corner, the attentive observer can discover the coat of arms of the former Alconchel owners, a detail that evokes the lineage and prestige of the families who resided here.

Traces of a Noble Past

The Flor da Murta Palace, in its original conception, included vast gardens and a monumental fountain, where a gargoyle represented the mythical figure of Bacchus. Although the gardens were, at one time, adapted for industrial use in the late 19th century, traces such as an old hydraulic system, which once supplied the fountain, have been identified in archaeological interventions. On the western façade of the palace, one can still distinguish the portal of what was its private chapel, dedicated to Our Lady of Monserrate, an element that recalls the religious and cultural dimension inherent to the great noble houses of old. Some 18th-century tile panels that decorated the interior have been removed over time, but the structure still preserves the memory of those eras.