King of Trash Palace

Category: Civil Architecture > Palace

District: Setúbal > Barreiro > Coina > Zona Industrial de Coina

Location

The Trash King's Palace stands in the Coina Industrial Zone, in the locality of Coina, belonging to the municipality of Barreiro. Its presence is unmistakable in the landscape of the south bank of the Tagus. Anyone approaching from the south, via Avenida 10 de Junho, can easily spot this unique structure that stands out in the surrounding urban and industrial environment.

The palace is located on what was once a vast rural property, known by various names throughout history, such as Quinta de São Joaquim or Quinta do Inferno. Its location at one of Barreiro's extremities gives it remarkable visibility.

The Figure Behind the Palace

This unconventional building is intrinsically linked to the personality of Manuel Martins Gomes Júnior, a man of humble origins who, against all expectations, rose socially and economically in the early 20th century. Popularly known as the "Trash King", Gomes Júnior built an empire based on collecting Lisbon's waste, which he used to feed his pigs and fertilize land. His story is a remarkable example of entrepreneurship.

Manuel Martins Gomes Júnior was a controversial and provocative figure, a staunch republican who did not hesitate to challenge the conventions of the time. The names he gave to his garbage transport vessels, such as Mephistopheles or Beelzebub, or to his daughters, with names of pagan goddesses, are testaments to his eccentricity and biting humor.

Architecture and Mysticism

The construction of the Trash King's Palace, begun around 1910, resulted in an imposing and unusual structure. The building is characterized by two wide floors and, above all, by a disproportionately tall tower, which earned it the popular name of Coina Tower or Devil's Tower. Its unusual aesthetic, closer to an eccentric castle than a traditional residence, captured popular imagination, giving rise to various legends and mysteries.

Despite its grandeur, the palace was never inhabited by Gomes Júnior's family, as the works were mysteriously interrupted. In 1988, a fire destroyed its interior, leaving the structure in a state of abandonment. Access to its interior is not permitted, but its silhouette continues to spark the curiosity of passers-by, like an architectural and historical enigma in the Barreiro landscape.

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