Facade from the Palácio do Freixo

Category: Civil Architecture > Portal

District: Viana do Castelo > Ponte de Lima > Ponte de Lima > Vitorino das Donas

Location

This imposing gateway is located in the tranquil parish of Vitorino das Donas, in the municipality of Ponte de Lima. Positioned in the wall of Quinta da Torre das Donas, next to national road EN. 203, its presence harmoniously blends into the rural landscape, inviting a pause for observation. It is a landmark that subtly integrates into the rural Minho environment, offering a glimpse of the past in the heart of Minho.

A Piece with History and a Journey

The gateway admired today in Ponte de Lima has an unusual history, as it was not here that it originated. Created in the mid-18th century, around 1750, this monumental piece originally belonged to the distinguished Palácio do Freixo, in the city of Porto. Its design is attributed to the notable Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, a central figure of the Baroque in northern Portugal. The gateway was transferred to Vitorino das Donas before 1924, to integrate into the complex of Quinta da Torre das Donas, maintaining its grandeur and historical value intact, despite the change of location.

Nasoni's Art in Granite

This gateway is an eloquent example of Nasoni's Baroque style and mastery, being plastically inseparable from the opulent aesthetics of Palácio do Freixo. Mainly carved in granite, it features an ogee arch resting on imposts ornamented with volutes. It is richly decorated with leaf and fruit motifs in relief, both on its exterior and interior, where two faces, one feminine and one masculine, and a vase with fruits also stand out. At the top of the arch, a dolphin with festoons supports a curved pediment surmounted by a shell, elements that denote the sculptural richness and scenographic capacity of the architect, making this gateway a true point of architectural and artistic interest.

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