Valenças Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Sintra > Sintra > Santa Maria e São Miguel, São Martinho e São Pedro de Penaferrim

Location

In the heart of the historic Village of Sintra, in an elevated position, stands the Valenças Palace. Its presence is notable right at the entrance to the oldest part of the village, bordering the Parque da Liberdade (Liberty Park), which once formed part of its gardens. Given its scenic and prominent location, it offers itself to visitors' view, constituting a unique architectural element in Sintra's urban landscape.

History and Purpose

Built between 1860 and 1870, Valenças Palace was originally conceived as the summer residence for the wealthy Count of Valenças, Luís Leite Pereira Jardim. The project for this imposing dwelling was entrusted to the Italian architect Giuseppe Luigi Cinatti, who was also a set designer for the prestigious São Carlos Theatre. Throughout the 20th century, the palace transitioned into the public sphere, being acquired by the Sintra Municipal Council in 1936. Since then, Valenças Palace has served various cultural and administrative functions, housing the Municipal Library and Archive in the past, and currently serving as the seat of the Municipal Assembly.

Style and Architectural Details

Valenças Palace stands out for its revivalist and eclectic architecture, revealing a fusion of styles that characterized Sintra's architecture of that era. Its facades, painted in a distinctive rosy hue, adapt to the slope of the terrain, featuring varied levels and rich decoration, especially visible in the areas facing the village. We can observe Neo-Manueline details in the shape of the openings and in the pinnacles that crown the building, elements that lend a regal and detailed appearance. On the upper floor of the main facade, a loggia draws attention, with its pointed Neo-Gothic arches and an interior ceiling that evokes Mudejar influence, creating a harmonious visual contrast.

The Tile Panel

One of the most unique elements of the Valenças Palace's main facade is a large vertical panel of polychrome tiles. This work, which suggests a "door guard", was created by master Carlos Vizeu in 1959 and later replaced by a replica in 2002. At the center of the panel appear the coat of arms of the municipality of Sintra, framed by a rich border that integrates plant scrollwork and scattered animal figures, finished at the bottom with fringes. This panel not only beautifies the palace but also serves as a point of cultural interest, telling a bit of the visual and heraldic history of the locality.

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