Palace of Quinta de São Roque da Lameira

Category: Civil Architecture > Manor House / Stately Mansion

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Lameira

Location

The Palacete da Quinta de São Roque da Lameira is located in the Lameira area, in the parish of Campanhã, Porto. It is positioned in an isolated and overhanging manner, slightly set back from Rua de São Roque da Lameira. In front of the main facade, a paved courtyard extends, featuring granite stones, adorned with landscaped flowerbeds and delimited by a granite wall with wrought iron gates.

The former gardens and woods of the estate, located north and west of the palacete, were transformed into the Parque de São Roque da Lameira, offering a green and serene environment. This area of the city is marked by the presence of single-family buildings and other palacetes, which, together with vast green areas, bear witness to the existence of grand estates in Campanhã of yesteryear.

An Architectural Overview

Originally dating from the 18th century, the Palacete da Quinta de São Roque da Lameira underwent significant alterations in the 20th century, which shaped its current appearance. Its architecture is distinguished by a rectangular plan, composed of three distinct bodies, with the central one being higher and narrower, which lends the building elegant verticality and proportion.

The palacete's facades are rendered and painted, contrasting harmoniously with the defining elements in exposed stonework. The building features two floors above ground level, with attics and storage areas on the lower floor. The materials used in its construction include ashlar masonry for the exterior walls, wooden floorboards and granite paving for the floors, and interiors with stucco finishes and decorated ceilings.

History and Renovation

The history of the palacete dates back to 1759, a date engraved on its facade, believed to correspond to the completion of its initial construction. For decades, it was owned by the prominent Ramos Pinto family, who carried out expansion and alteration works in the early 20th century, adapting the residence to the needs of the era. Its connection to the Ramos Pinto family is a striking element of its past, reflecting a period of family life within the estate.

In the late 1970s, the property passed into the hands of Porto City Council. After a period of municipal use, the palacete became vacant. However, more recently, a partnership was established for its requalification, with the aim of transforming it into a space dedicated to contemporary art, allowing for the exhibition of collections and giving it a new cultural and public purpose in the city.

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