Category: Civil Architecture > House
District: Viseu > Resende > São João da Fontoura
Casa da Soenga is located in Lugar da Soenga, in the municipality of Resende, in an area associated with the locality of São João da Fontoura. This rural manor house enjoys an elevated and isolated position, offering visitors a wide and unobstructed view over the surrounding landscape. From here, the gaze can extend across the vast Douro river valley and its slopes. Access to the property is via a serene tree-lined avenue of plane trees, inviting discovery of this historic site.
Recognised as a Property of Public Interest, Casa da Soenga has a history that dates back at least to the 16th century, when a construction existed on the same site. However, the devastating earthquake of 1755 caused significant damage to the original structure. The house we admire today is the result of a profound reconstruction and expansion, carried out in 1779 by Joaquim de Carvalho Cabral de Azevedo Cardoso and Meneses, who gave it a distinct and imposing architecture. Details such as the date 1869 inscribed on the main gate and a stone from 1770 on the property testify to its different phases of evolution.
This remarkable heritage has remained in the possession of the same family, the Azevedos Coutinhos, for fifteen generations, demonstrating historical continuity and a strong legacy reflected in the preservation and character of the building.
Casa da Soenga, with its 18th-century architectural features, is an example of a noble residence of its time. Its structure is composed of two large wings that give it a solid and stately presence. At the main entrance, the family's coat of arms is visible, an element that underscores its ancestry and importance.
A spacious reception courtyard, which includes a fountain on the western wall, precedes the house's facade, creating an inviting welcoming space. Integrated into the complex is also a private chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Carmel, which complements the property's religious and aristocratic character.
Surrounding the house are gardens that are a testament to the aesthetics of the era. Organized into three staggered levels, these green spaces feature a geometric composition of flowerbeds, defined by boxwood hedges. Various shrubby plants can be observed, with camellias standing out.
On the first level, an octagonal water basin marks the central axis, flanked by benches and sculptural elements representing the seasons. A staircase, adorned with two statues (one evoking Mercury and the other a female figure) and a fountain built at its base, allows access to the second level. This level is dominated by the presence of a large araucaria and a dense orange grove, which forms a vibrant green carpet. The third, lower level, serves as a natural viewpoint, equipped with a low wall-bench and a small stone table, inviting a pause and contemplation of the vast Douro landscape.
Inside Casa da Soenga, there is a highly significant library, housing a collection of six thousand volumes. This collection is considered the largest and most important in the municipality of Resende, and one of the most important in the entire region, reflecting the cultural and intellectual richness that has characterized this manor house throughout the centuries.
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt
Coordinates DD: 41.11161922,-7.90573463
Coordinates DMS: 41°06'41.8"N 07°54'20.6"W
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