Palace of the Frontiers

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Sítio do Barcal

Location

The Fronteira Palace stands in an area of Lisbon that retains a remarkable serenity, away from the hustle and bustle of the city center. Located in the parish of São Domingos de Benfica, in the Sítio do Barcal area, this palace is close to one of the entrances to the vast Monsanto Forest Park. Its position offers a calm and green environment, providing a tranquil refuge even in the heart of the capital. Although some taller buildings are visible in the distance, the atmosphere remains distinctly pleasant.

History and Baroque Architecture

Built between 1670 and 1673, the Fronteira Palace was created at the initiative of D. João de Mascarenhas, the first Marquis of Fronteira, as a country residence for his family. After the devastating earthquake of 1755, the building underwent reconstruction and expansion. Over the centuries, the complex has maintained much of its authenticity, presenting itself as a remarkable example of 17th-century Baroque architecture and decorations.

The palace, along with its extensive gardens, old orchard, and surrounding woods, was recognized as a National Monument in 1982, a testament to its enduring cultural and heritage value.

The Charm of the Interiors

The palace's rooms, many of which are still inhabited by the family, hold a valuable collection of art and history. The Hall of Battles stands out for its tile panels that narrate episodes of the Restoration War, including the famous confrontation of D. João de Mascarenhas against a Spanish general, an event that cemented his loyalty to D. Pedro II and earned him the title of marquis. The Dining Room, in turn, displays a set of Dutch tiles and portraits of Portuguese nobility.

The Juno Room, or Empire Room, dazzles with its frescoes and more portraits of prominent figures of the nobility. These interior spaces offer an immersion into the life and tastes of the Portuguese aristocracy of yesteryear, reflecting their refinement and power through art and decoration.

The facade of the Chapel, although with roots in the 16th century and renovated in the 18th century, is a particularly fascinating element. It is adorned with stones, shells, glass shards, and fragments of porcelain, which, according to tradition, were used at the palace's inauguration and then broken so that no one else could use the same pieces that the future King D. Pedro had used. On the chapel's terrace, tiled niches depict mythological figures and personifications of the arts, adding a layer of symbolism and beauty.

Classical Gardens: A Tile Spectacle

The magnificent gardens of the Fronteira Palace, extending over approximately 5.5 hectares, are a vibrant expression of Baroque landscape art. Replete with fountains, tanks, statuary, and boxwood beds, the gardens are a delight to the senses, where the explosion of colors (blues, reds, ochres, greens) creates a unique visual experience. Tile panels tell stories and represent the rural customs of different seasons.

On one side of the main garden, one can observe tile panels depicting knights, ancestors of the family, whose images are reflected in the waters of a large tank. Two majestic staircases flank this tank, leading to a gallery where busts of Portuguese kings, with the exception of the three monarchs named Filipe, adorn the decorative niches.

Jardim do Laranjal: A Contemporary Dialogue

A more contemporary intervention in the gardens is the Jardim do Laranjal, conceived in 2010. This space, formerly an orchard and vegetable garden, was transformed into an ornamental garden that harmoniously integrates with the historical language of the palace complex. Maintaining the geometric structure of the upper terrace, the Jardim do Laranjal establishes a subtle dialogue between the past and the present.

Water features, such as tanks, channels, and water mirrors, not only serve a practical irrigation function but also become prominent ornamental pieces. These elements are clad with polychrome tiles designed by the artist Eduardo Nery, whose work fuses the contemporary with the rich Portuguese decorative tradition. In addition to the orange trees, which evoke the original use of the site, cypresses and erythrinas have been planted, enriching the plant diversity and creating plays of shadow, color, and texture that invite contemplation.

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