Palace of the Stoned

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São José

Location

The Pedrosas Palace stands on Rua de São José, an artery of the city of Lisbon, in the Santo António area. The building is prominently and distinctly situated within the urban landscape, flanked by courtyards that connect it to the street through distinctive gateways. At the rear, it reveals an extensive garden, designed in terraces, offering a verdant contrast to the palace's imposing architecture.

Architecture and Design

This palace features an architecture that reflects the transition between the Pombaline and 19th-century styles, characteristic of the periods in which it was built and transformed. With an L-shaped floor plan, the building is spread over three floors and an attic, crowned by a four-sided roof. Its most imposing façade, facing west, is marked by a solid ashlar base. The upper floors exhibit a sequence of rectangular windows, with those on the first floor adorned with elegant balconies and cast-iron railings, while those on the second floor have exterior shutters. The upper section of the façade stands out with a platband that alternates balusters and ashlar plinths.

The predominant materials in its construction include masonry, limestone ashlar, painted plaster, wrought and cast iron, wood, and stucco, lending the palace enduring solidity and beauty. Access is gained from the sides, through courtyards leading to cast-iron gates, flanked by ashlar pillars, inviting a more detailed observation of its structure.

Historical Trajectory

The history of the Pedrosas Palace dates back to 1764, when it was built to serve as the residence of the Italian merchant Tomás Mongiardino. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, the palace saw several owners whose interventions shaped its current configuration. It was in 1831 that the judge José António Silva Pedrosa acquired the property and undertook significant renovations, thus giving it the name by which it is known today. The palace's versatility over time is remarkable, having served as a residence, embassy headquarters, general intendancy of police, and even a high school. For a significant part of the 20th century, the building was occupied by various public entities, including the General Administration of Posts and Telegraphs and the Ministry of Public Works and Communications, a testament to its relevance in the city's panorama.

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