Category: Civil Architecture > Museum
District: Porto > Vila Nova de Gaia > Canelas
The Solar Condes de Resende is located in the Canelas area, in Vila Nova de Gaia. It is situated in a more rural environment, between the places known as Costa and Eiras, near the small village of Negrelos. The property benefits from its connection to the surrounding landscape, including elements such as the São Mamede spring, in the Serra de Canelas, which feeds its historic tank.
This manor house has a history that stretches back in time, with the first documentary references dating back to the year 1042. This suggests that its origin may be even older, perhaps from the late 10th or early 11th century. Over the centuries, the property, also known as Quinta da Costa, belonged to various noble families, including the Costas and the Viscounts of Beire, until, through marriage in the 19th century, it came into the hands of the Counts of Resende, who would give it its current name.
The architecture of the Solar Condes de Resende features a regional Baroque style, characterized by an external sobriety that contrasts with the family and working life that unfolded within its walls. The building, with its main "L" plan, was traditionally divided: the lower floor was intended for domestic chores and work, including warehouses for storing goods, while the upper floor, the "noble floor", was reserved for the family's leisure and habitation. The property also includes a semi-private chapel dedicated to Saint Thomas, located outside the main body of the manor house, simple in its structure and allowing visitors to attend religious services.
The surroundings of the manor house feature a Baroque-style garden that invites a peaceful stroll. Notable are the camellias that bloom there and a large stone tank. This tank has an interesting feature: it is supplied with water directly from the São Mamede spring, located in the Serra de Canelas, a natural element that contributes to the beauty and serenity of this outdoor space.
The Solar Condes de Resende has a strong connection to the life and work of the renowned Portuguese writer Eça de Queirós. His marriage to Emília de Castro Pamplona, a descendant of the Counts of Resende, led to the manor house becoming a place frequented by the family, initially as a summer residence. In the manor house's garden, a statue evoking the writer can be found. Currently, the manor house serves as an important cultural center, housing a valuable Documentation and Archive Center and various collections relevant to the study of local and regional heritage and culture, such as the Marciano Azuaga Collection or the literary estate of writer J. Rentes de Carvalho, in addition to archaeological reserves.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.0720739,-8.5985621
Coordinates DMS: 41°04'19.5"N 08°35'54.8"W
Weather Canelas
On-duty Pharmacy Canelas
