Quinta da Macieira (including walkway and chapel)

Category: Civil Architecture > Ensemble

District: Vila Real > Chaves > Redondelo

Location:

Quinta da Macieira is located in Redondelo, a small village in the municipality of Chaves, where granite houses and cobblestone streets reveal the region's rural heritage. The property stands next to Rua Visconde do Rosário, at a point where a walkway crosses the street, establishing an unusual connection between residential buildings.

The ensemble remains integrated within the traditional village housing, benefiting from a discreet and tranquil environment. The coexistence between the main facade, facing west, and the fronting land gives the exterior of the estate a serene urban landscape, punctuated by the play of shadows and granite textures.

Origin and History:

Commissioned between 1747 and 1759 by Manuel Álvares Calvão, the main house of the estate testifies to the family's importance in the 18th century. Initially, the walkway connected it to a second building, now detached, but the entrance portal, the courtyard, and the access to the chapel remain.

During the 19th century and in 1935, utilitarian additions were made, respectively, which expanded the service areas of the property. In 2006, its classification as a Property of Public Interest recognized the value of the ensemble, including the house, walkway, courtyard, entrance gate, chapel, and surrounding wall.

Aesthetics and Ambiance:

The building displays a rectangular plan, complemented by a chapel at a right angle, with an interrupted pediment and a cross on top. The main facade, marked by straight lintel openings, features a continuous balcony interrupted by a single-flight staircase, whose scroll railings reinforce the Baroque spirit.

The granite stonework entrance portal is enhanced by pilasters topped with pinnacles and surmounted by an coat of arms. Inside, the courtyard opens onto a balcony supported by slender columns, while the chapel, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Piedade, reveals details such as the diamond-shaped oculus and the coat of arms inserted into the double entablature portal. The ensemble invites exploration of every corner, appreciating the precision of the stonework and the contrast with the clear sky of Alto Tâmega.

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