Category: Civil Architecture > House
District: Vila Real > Sabrosa > Provesende > Provesende, Gouvães do Douro e São Cristóvão do Douro
Casa dos Belezas is located in the village of Provesende, in the municipality of Sabrosa, within the Union of Parishes of Provesende, Gouvães do Douro, and São Cristóvão do Douro. This locality, recognized as a wine-growing village, is part of the magnificent landscape of the Alto Douro Wine Region, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Situated at an altitude of 588 meters on the right bank of the Douro River, the house harmoniously adapts to the slope of the terrain. Its strategic position, at the end of one of the village's main roads and near the central square, gives it a prominent presence in the urban fabric of Provesende.
This stately home, primarily built between the 18th and 19th centuries, is a remarkable example of residential architecture from the late Baroque and 19th-century periods. Its main façade, facing east, stands out for the richness and complexity of its decorative details, making it one of the most elaborate noble houses in Provesende.
The house has an irregular floor plan, composed of several sections that are uniquely articulated. Its two-story façades are highlighted by friezes and pilastered quoins. The main frontage is crowned by a false semi-circular pediment in the center, which displays a family coat of arms. The windows and doorways are framed by mouldings with vegetal motifs, and on the main floor, a central balcony window, with a counter-curved profile and a wrought-iron railing, draws the eye with its meticulous ornamentation.
Also known as Casa dos Ribeiros or Casa da Comba, Casa dos Belezas is an important link to the past of influential Douro families. Its initial construction dates back to the late 18th century, by Manuel José de Morais Sarmento. Throughout its history, the property passed through several noble lineages of the region, such as the Barros da Nóbrega family.
The name by which it is best known today, Casa dos Belezas, derives from its acquisition by Luís Borges Beleza de Andrade, a prominent figure who was the first administrator of the Company for the Agriculture of the Alto Douro Vineyards. This connection highlights the manor's deep relationship with the region's history and wine-growing culture, consolidating its status as a valuable Property of Public Interest.
Casa dos Belezas is a living document of the construction evolution and architectural practices over the centuries. It is observed that it was built upon a simpler pre-existing structure. Studies reveal that the building underwent at least three distinct construction phases: an initial pre-Pombaline phase, a Pombaline phase, and a later intervention in the late 19th century, which shaped its spatial organization and the techniques used.
Inside, the main body of the house was designed to reflect the social and functional organization typical of Douro manor houses. The ground floor was dedicated to activities related to wine production, housing the cellar and the wine press. On the upper floors, the social areas, such as salons, faced the street, while the more private spaces opened onto the rear garden. Some of its interior walls still preserve the peculiar wooden "cage" structure, a construction technique that reinforced the masonry of the time.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.21958794,-7.57074343
Coordinates DMS: 41°13'10.5"N 07°34'14.7"W
Weather Provesende
On-duty Pharmacy Provesende
