Vila-Flor Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Lisboa > Lisboa > Lisboa > São Vicente de Fora

Location

Vila-Flor Palace is nestled on the slope of Costa do Castelo, in the very heart of the historic São Vicente de Fora area, in Lisbon. This privileged location, an integral part of the old Mouraria, places the palace in an area with a unique urban environment, where the network of the capital's oldest streets and buildings unfolds. Its position offers a particular perspective on the city's housing and its dynamics.

A Residence with History

Initially known by designations such as "Casas da Costa do Castelo", the building we now call Vila-Flor Palace is a remarkable example of manorial architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries in Lisbon. Its current name derives from its acquisition, in the early 20th century, by the last Counts of Vila Flor, a family that marked its more recent history. Throughout the centuries, this stately home was the residence of various prominent families in Lisbon society, each leaving its mark on its evolution and character.

Architectural Features

Vila-Flor Palace stands out for its erudite architecture, which reflects the aesthetics and constructive mastery of the era in which it was built. One of its most distinctive features are the carved stonework openings, which adorn the façade and bestow upon the building an elegance and refinement characteristic of noble houses. These stone details are testament to the artistic richness and care in construction that characterize the city's architectural heritage.

Cultural and Social Legacy

This palace is not just a building of architectural value, but also a space that hosted and witnessed important moments of Lisbon's social and cultural life. It was here that the famous Professor Tomás de Mello Breyner, Count of Mafra, was born, and where the tea story he himself would recount in his Memoirs unfolded. Later, the 10th Countess of Vila Flor, Luísa Manoel de Vilhena, a renowned writer, used the noble floor to host many intellectuals, politicians, and figures of society from that era, consolidating the palace as a meeting point and a hub of cultural effervescence.

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