Balsemão Viscounts' Mansion

Category: Civil Architecture > Building

District: Porto > Porto > Porto > Centro Histórico

Location

Located in Praça de Carlos Alberto, in the center of Porto, in the parish of Vitória.

Construction and History

Building constructed in the 18th century by José Alvo Brandão. Later, it was inherited by the Balsemão family through the marriage of D. Maria Rosa Alvo to the 2nd Viscount of Balsemão.

Distinguished Guests

The mansion was a famous guesthouse in the 1840s, having hosted the exiled King Charles Albert of Sardinia, between April and July 1849, before his death.

Renovations and Ownership

In 1854, it was acquired by the 1st Viscount of Trindade, José António de Sousa Basto, who made major changes to the building, making it even more elegant.

Recent Functions

Since 1996, the building has been used for services of the Porto City Council, such as the Department of Culture and the Urban Archaeology Office.

Recent Acquisition

In 2022, it was purchased by the Hotéis do Bom Jesus group, with plans to transform it into another of their hotels.

Sources: https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palacete_dos_Viscondes_de_Balsemão

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