Category: Religious Architecture > Ensemble
District: Viana do Castelo > Viana do Castelo > Vila de Punhe > Portela
Quinta de São Cristóvão da Portela is located in Vila de Punhe, in the Portela area, belonging to the municipality of Viana do Castelo. It is situated on the slopes of the Coturinho and Santinho hills, in an area that maintains a strong tradition linked to agricultural production, particularly viticulture. Its position offers an environment that reflects the rural and historical essence of Minho, integrating into the region's lush green landscape.
The history of the Quinta dates back to 1575, when the estate's bond was established in the name of António Vilas-Boas Reymonde. However, it was at the beginning of the 18th century that the property underwent significant remodeling. Cristóvão Alpoim da Silva, who became wealthy in Brazil, was responsible for transforming the house, adding the tower, the imposing staircase, and various agricultural annexes. All these constructions are harmoniously arranged around a central courtyard, which defines the character of the complex.
Around 1720, Cristóvão Alpoim da Silva's nephew commissioned the construction, adjacent to the main house, of a remarkable formal boxwood garden, designed in terraces. The chapel was also added, an element that reinforces the spiritual and artistic dimension of the quinta. The manor house, dating from the 17th century, and the chapel, in Baroque style, are important architectural landmarks that reflect the property's development over the centuries.
The main entrance to Quinta de São Cristóvão da Portela is through a forecourt, where an olive grove and a granite paving lead to an armorial portal. This monumental portal provides direct access to the inner courtyard, around which all the house's buildings are oriented. A side door, set into the forecourt wall, allows access to the garden, which stretches along the house, inviting a stroll through its meticulously kept nooks.
This manor house, the chapel, the gardens, and the ingenious hydraulic system of Quinta da Portela represent a remarkable and particularly well-preserved example of the manorial agricultural estates on the south bank of the Lima River. Its integrity, authenticity, scale, and architectural and patrimonial value give it a unique importance in the region, being recognized as a Monument of Public Interest.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.6638038,-8.7400342
Coordinates DMS: 41°39'49.7"N 08°44'24.1"W
Weather Vila de Punhe
On-duty Pharmacy Vila de Punhe
