Category: Civil Architecture > Manor House
District: Viseu > Penalva do Castelo > Ínsua > Sangemil
Casa da Ínsua, also known as Solar dos Albuquerques, is located in the pleasant area of Sangemil, belonging to the locality of Ínsua, in the municipality of Penalva do Castelo. Situated in the district of Viseu, this property is set in a markedly rural environment, standing out for its grandeur and the tranquility that surrounds it.
Delimited by walls that separate it from the surrounding landscape, its isolated location gives it a character of serenity, allowing the grandeur of the palace and its gardens to be fully appreciated in the Beira context, offering expansive views over the region.
The history of Casa da Ínsua dates back to the 16th century, when a primitive construction was erected by João de Albuquerque e Castro. However, the form we know today is largely due to the reconstruction carried out in the second half of the 18th century by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres, a prominent figure who was captain-general of Mato Grosso and Cuiabá, in Brazil. The project is attributed to José Francisco de Paiva, an architect of the time.
The property remained in the same family through a peculiar entailment system, which allowed the transmission of assets from uncles to male nephews, provided they remained unmarried. In front of the house, testimonies of the wartime past, are two cannons dated 1776 and 1793, used in the Battle of Buçaco during the French Invasions. In the 19th century, the palace underwent improvement works guided by the Italian architect Nicola Bigaglia, who introduced elements that met the demands of the era, such as the courtyard fountain and some of the estate gates. The estate was, in its time, an example of self-sufficiency, with the region's only ice factory, a hydroelectric generator, and various agricultural units that still maintain their activity today, such as wineries and olive presses. However, in 1970, a fire consumed a vast library, resulting in the loss of an invaluable collection of documentation on 18th-century Brazil.
Casa da Ínsua presents a traditional Portuguese architectural scheme, with an extensive central body flanked by two towers, forming the main facade. The predominant style is Baroque, resembling other national manors of the same era, but distinguished by unique decorative details. The purely ornamental pentagonal battlements, adorned with fleur-de-lis, along with the cannon-shaped gargoyles, evoke a romantic aesthetic and reinforce the antiquity and prestige of the founding family.
The noble floor, particularly on the garden-facing facade, reveals tall and elegant windows, framed by Baroque and Rococo stonework. Inside, the Vestibule impresses with its imposing granite staircase with sculpted volutes and ceilings painted with the coats of arms of the Albuquerque, Pereira, Melo, and Cáceres families. Also noteworthy are various indigenous and hunting weapons, allegedly brought from Brazilian lands by Luís de Albuquerque. The rooms, decorated with wooden coffered ceilings, tile wainscoting, and tapestries embroidered with the family crest, display a collection of Asian furniture and pieces made from exotic woods, testaments to the travels and high status of their former owners.
The gardens of Casa da Ínsua offer a varied experience, divided between formal areas and a notable English Garden. In front of the palace's main facade are the boxwood gardens, meticulously planted in 1856, forming harmonious geometric designs, including the house's coat of arms, fans, and cornucopias. These are beautified by the blooming of camellias and rose bushes, adding a touch of color since the mid-19th century. A large water tank, which serves as a home for swans and lotus flowers, contributes to the irrigation of the property and supplies the various fountains spread throughout the space.
The English Garden, in turn, is a refuge of large trees, such as sequoias and imposing Brazilwood trees, brought by Luís de Albuquerque, as well as a eucalyptus over 50 meters tall and Cedars of Lebanon. In this green space, you will also find the "Fonte dos Meninos" (Children's Fountain), a work by the architect Nicola Bigaglia. The Terrace, which extends south at the level of the noble floor, is one of the oldest elements of the complex, dating back to the 17th century. This stone-slab terrace, with a small wall, is punctuated by artillery pieces, possibly decorative, and a wall covered with tiles featuring a fountain and a vertical sundial.
Integrated into the architectural complex of the manor, the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição stands out for the Albuquerque coat of arms adorning its main door and for a unique bell tower. The latter features five superimposed bells, with a sixth at the very top, a rare combination that may date back to the chapel's origins.
Inside, the single-nave chapel reveals tiles adorning its walls, a painted polychrome dome, and a neoclassical altarpiece. These artistic additions, executed by Luigi Bastitini in the 20th century, enrich the place of worship and complement the historical atmosphere of the site.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 40.67519883,-7.70075293
Coordinates DMS: 40°40'30.7"N 07°42'2.7"W
Weather Ínsua
On-duty Pharmacy Ínsua
