Quintela Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > Misericórdia

Location

Quintela Palace stands in the parish of Misericórdia, in Lisbon, within an urban area of great historical significance. Bounded by Rua do Alecrim to the west and Rua António Maria Cardoso to the east, the palace stands out in its surroundings. Its imposing main façade faces the Largo do Barão de Quintela (Baron of Quintela Square), a space specifically created in the late 18th century to confer greater dignity and architectural prominence to the building, thereby influencing the layout of the surrounding urban fabric.

Historical Significance

This aristocratic palace was erected in the late 18th century at the initiative of the influential Quintela Barons family, to serve as their residence. Before its construction, this site was already home to noble houses, including those of the Counts of Vimioso, which were successively destroyed by a violent fire in 1726 and the devastating 1755 earthquake. The decision to build Quintela Palace on these ruins marks a turning point in the occupation of this historical space.

Over the years, the palace was the stage for important events. In 1807, during the first French invasion of Portugal, General Jean-Andoche Junot chose it as his Headquarters and official residence, a fact that underscores its importance and distinction in Lisbon's architectural landscape of the time. It was also the setting for notable parties and balls, organized by the 2nd Baron of Quintela, Joaquim Pedro Quintela Filho, which became famous in 19th-century Lisbon society.

Architecture and Artistic Decoration

Quintela Palace features an eclectic architectural style, blending neoclassical elements with neo-baroque features, characteristic of 18th-century noble constructions. Its façades, though sober and marked by horizontality, exhibit remarkable regularity in the arrangement of windows. On the main façade, the central body stands out, topped by a triangular pediment displaying a circular oculus, flanked by urns and flaming torches, and a perfect arch portal that enriches the entrance.

The palace interiors are a true artistic treasure, resulting from an extensive decorative campaign carried out in the 1820s. In this undertaking, renowned artists participated, such as the set designer Giuseppe Cinatti and the painters António Manuel da Fonseca and Cirilo Volkmar Machado, along with the stucco artist Félix Salla. Their contributions resulted in profusely worked spaces, where artistic stuccoes and oil and fresco paintings stand out. A notable example is the fresco depicting the “Rape of the Sabine Women” in the Roman Room, where portraits of the artists themselves can be found. Quintela Palace was classified as a Property of Public Interest in 1938, a recognition of its exceptional historical and architectural relevance.

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