Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa
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The Ducal Palace of Vila Viçosa ( pt, Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa) is a royal palace in Portugal, located in the
civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authority ...
of Nossa Senhora da Conceição, in the
municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...
of
Vila Viçosa Vila Viçosa () is a town and a municipality in the District of Évora, Alentejo in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 8,319, in an area of 194.86 km². The municipal holiday is August 16. Parishes Administratively, the municipality is d ...
, in the
Alentejo Alentejo ( , ) is a geographical, historical, and cultural region of south–central and southern Portugal. In Portuguese, its name means "beyond () the Tagus river" (''Tejo''). Alentejo includes the regions of Alto Alentejo and Baixo Alent ...
, situated about 150 km (93 miles) east of the capital
Lisbon Lisbon (; pt, Lisboa ) is the capital and largest city of Portugal, with an estimated population of 544,851 within its administrative limits in an area of 100.05 km2. Grande Lisboa, Lisbon's urban area extends beyond the city's administr ...
. It was for many centuries the seat of
House of Braganza The Most Serene House of Braganza ( pt, Sereníssima Casa de Bragança), also known as the Brigantine Dynasty (''Dinastia Brigantina''), is a dynasty of emperors, kings, princes, and dukes of Portuguese origin which reigned in Europe and the Ame ...
, one of the most important noble houses in Portugal which was the ruling house of the
Kingdom of Portugal The Kingdom of Portugal ( la, Regnum Portugalliae, pt, Reino de Portugal) was a monarchy in the western Iberian Peninsula and the predecessor of the modern Portuguese Republic. Existing to various extents between 1139 and 1910, it was also kno ...
from 1640 until 1910 when King Manuel II, titular head of the family, was deposed in the
5 October 1910 Revolution The 5 October 1910 revolution was the overthrow of the centuries-old Portuguese monarchy and its replacement by the First Portuguese Republic. It was the result of a ''coup d'état'' organized by the Portuguese Republican Party. By 1910, the K ...
which brought in a Republican government.


History

Vila Viçosa Vila Viçosa () is a town and a municipality in the District of Évora, Alentejo in Portugal. The population in 2011 was 8,319, in an area of 194.86 km². The municipal holiday is August 16. Parishes Administratively, the municipality is d ...
became a
fiefdom A fief (; la, feudum) was a central element in medieval contracts based on feudal law. It consisted of a form of property holding or other rights granted by an overlord to a vassal, who held it in fealty or "in fee" in return for a form o ...
of the
Dukes of Braganza The title Duke of Braganza ( pt, Duque de Bragança) in the House of Braganza is one of the most important titles in the peerage of Portugal. Starting in 1640, when the House of Braganza acceded to the throne of Portugal, the male heir of the Po ...
when Fernando I of Braganza succeeded his father
Afonso, 1st Duke of Braganza Dom Afonso I of Braganza (; 10 August 1377 – 15 December 1461) was the first duke of Braganza and the eighth count of Barcelos. He founded the House of Braganza, the most powerful and wealthy dynasty in Portugal. His descendants became high-ra ...
, and received the title of
Count of Arraiolos Count of Arraiolos (in Portuguese ''Conde de Arraiolos'') is a Portuguese title granted, in 1377 by King Fernando I of Portugal, to ''Dom'' Álvaro Pires de Castro, a Galician noble, brother of Inês de Castro (King Pedro I of Portugal 2nd wife ...
from his grandfather,
Nuno Alvares Pereira Nuno can refer to *Nuno (given name) :*Nuno Espirito Santo, football manager :*Nuno Tavares, football player *Nuño (given name) *Nuno felting, a fabric felting technique *'' Nuno'', meaning "ancestor" in Philippine languages, usually in reference ...
. Fernando I established his seat at the primitive Vila Viçosa Castle. However, following the 1483 execution of his son, Fernando II, 3rd Duke of Braganza, for treason by order of King
John II of Portugal John II ( pt, João II; ; 3 March 1455 – 25 October 1495), called the Perfect Prince ( pt, o Príncipe Perfeito, link=no), was King of Portugal from 1481 until his death in 1495, and also for a brief time in 1477. He is known for re-establishi ...
, the family was exiled to the
Kingdom of Castile The Kingdom of Castile (; es, Reino de Castilla, la, Regnum Castellae) was a large and powerful state on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region. It began in the 9th centu ...
. Returning in 1498 (after the death of King John II in 1495), the family regained its ancestral lands, although Jaime, 4th Duke of Braganza (Fernando II's successor), declined to live in the Castle of Vila Viçosa, owing to its association with his father's betrayal and murder. Construction of the ducal palace of the Dukes of Braganza began during the tenure of Duke Jaime of Braganza, between 1501 and 1502. It was situated in the ''Horta do Reguengo'' outside the walls of the nearby medieval village, in an area that was ''"characterized by extensive olive orchards and an abundance of water"'', presenting some similarities to the feudal residences of the region, such as the ''Sempre Noiva'' or ''Paço de Alvito''. The House of Braganza regained much of its power and wealth over time due to Duke Jaime's close kinship with the royal family (he being the nephew of King
Manuel I of Portugal Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portugal, a ...
) and his actions in reconciling relations between the nobles. Duke Jaime of Braganza commanded the victorious expedition to Azamor in 1513, and having secured a pardon expanded the wealth of the House of Braganza, and contributed to the growth of the ducal palace. In 1535 Teodósio I, 5th Duke of Braganza was appointed ''Constable of the Kingdom''. He managed to negotiate the marriage of his sister, Isabella of Braganza, with
Infante Edward, 4th Duke of Guimarães ''Infante'' (, ; f. ''infanta''), also anglicised as Infant or translated as Prince, is the title and rank given in the Iberian kingdoms of Spain (including the predecessor kingdoms of Aragon, Castile, Navarre, and León) and Portugal to t ...
(a brother of King
John III of Portugal John III ( pt, João III ; 7 June 1502 – 11 June 1557), nicknamed The Pious (Portuguese: ''o Piedoso''), was the King of Portugal and the Algarves from 1521 until his death in 1557. He was the son of King Manuel I and Maria of Aragon, the thi ...
), securing a closer association with the royal family. Following the need to expand the palace for the celebrations of the royal marriage, Teodósio I began the construction of the imposing facade, faced with marble in the Italianate-style, and in 1558 began the installation of the ''Sala de Música'' (''Hall of Music''). As Rafael Moreira (1997) indicated, the first building was a designed and decorated in the
Manueline The Manueline ( pt, estilo manuelino, ), occasionally known as Portuguese late Gothic, is the sumptuous, composite Portuguese architectural style originating in the 16th century, during the Portuguese Renaissance and Age of Discoveries. Manuel ...
style, and was remodelled in classical lines, along with the adjacent buildings and the expansion of the square in front of the building. It was inspired by the profile of the
Ribeira Palace Ribeira Palace (; pt, Paço da Ribeira) was the main residence of the Kings of Portugal, in Lisbon, for around 250 years. Its construction was ordered by King Manuel I of Portugal when he found the Royal Alcáçova of São Jorge unsuitable. The p ...
in Lisbon. Extensive remodeling later occurred in 1566, during the tenure of João I, 6th Duke of Braganza. It was the 7th Duke, Teodósio II, who in 1583 began the grand works of the classical facade, completed in 1635 during the regency of King
John IV of Portugal John IV ( pt, João, ; 19 March 1604 – 6 November 1656), nicknamed John the Restorer ( pt, João, o Restaurador), was the King of Portugal whose reign, lasting from 1640 until his death, began the Portuguese restoration of independence from H ...
, formerly Duke of Braganza. In 1602, Teodósio II married the Spanish noblewoman
Ana de Velasco y Girón Ana de Velasco y Téllez-Girón (1585 – 7 November 1607) was a Spanish noblewoman and mother of John IV of Portugal, the first Portuguese King of the Braganza Dynasty. She was the daughter of Juan Fernández de Velasco, 5th Duke of Frías and ...
, hoping to produce heirs. In commemoration of the marriage a composition of
azulejo ''Azulejo'' (, ; from the Arabic ''al- zillīj'', ) is a form of Spanish and Portuguese painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework. ''Azulejos'' are found on the interior and exterior of churches, palaces, ordinary houses, schools, and nowadays, resta ...
tiles by Fernando Loyaza, known as the ''Talavera de la Reina'', was installed in the ''Sala Grande'' (''Great Hall'').José Teixeira (1997), p. 11 The whole project of the classical facade was firstly executed by Nicolau de Frias, royal architect, but was later supplemented by Pedro Vaz Pereira and Manuel Pereira Alvenéo. The monumental facade was completed in the
Mannerist Mannerism, which may also be known as Late Renaissance, is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, ...
style, consisting of two floors, one with Tuscan capitals, the other with Ionic capitals. Later, in 1610, construction began of an additional third floor. In about 1611 the fireplace in the ''Sala de Medusa'' (''Medusa's Hall'') was designed and constructed by Pêro Vaz Pereira. Following the 1640 ascension of João II, 8th Duke of Braganza to the throne of Portugal as King John IV, the palace lost its importance as the permanent residence of the Dukes of Braganza. The first new remodelling to the Palace occurred in the 18th century, with the installation of an organ in the chapel. In 1716 King John V began minor renovations. Later, in 1762 under Queen
Maria I of Portugal , succession = Queen of Portugal , image = Maria I, Queen of Portugal - Giuseppe Troni, atribuído (Turim, 1739-Lisboa, 1810) - Google Cultural Institute.jpg , caption = Portrait attributed to Giuseppe Troni, , reign ...
, the construction began of the main tower fronting the Duchess's Garden (or ''Forest Garden'') and of a new wing, formally designated as the ''Quartos Novos'' (''New Quarters''). This included the ''Sala de Jantar'' (''Dining Hall''), which along with the other works, was finally completed under her successor, King
Joseph I of Portugal Dom Joseph I ( pt, José Francisco António Inácio Norberto Agostinho, ; 6 June 1714 – 24 February 1777), known as the Reformer (Portuguese: ''o Reformador''), was King of Portugal from 31 July 1750 until his death in 1777. Among other activ ...
in 1770. During the Napoleonic invasion of the Iberian peninsula, the Portuguese royal family fled to
Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...
, and the palace was closed. Long after the return of the royal family to Portugal, King
Carlos I of Portugal ''Dom'' Carlos I (; English: King Charles of Portugal; 28 September 1863 – 1 February 1908), known as the Diplomat ( pt, o Diplomata), the Martyr ( pt, o Martirizado), and the Oceanographer ( pt, o Oceanógrafo), among many other names, was ...
and his wife Amélie of Orleans began the renovations of the ''New Quarters'', to the designs of the Frenchman Negrier, in order to serve as their residence. After a period of living in these quarters as his semi-official residence, on 1 February 1908 King Carlos I returned with his family to Lisbon, where he was later
assassinated Assassination is the murder of a prominent or important person, such as a head of state, head of government, politician, world leader, member of a royal family or CEO. The murder of a celebrity, activist, or artist, though they may not have a ...
. On 5 October 1910 a revolution, instigated by Republican sympathizers, caused the royal family to flee to England and the residences of the monarchy were closed to the public. In 1932, whilst in exile, King
Manuel II of Portugal ''Dom'' Manuel II (15 November 1889 – 2 July 1932), "the Patriot" ( pt, "o Patriota") or "the Unfortunate" (), was the last King of Portugal, ascending the throne after the assassination of his father, King Carlos I, and his elder brother, ...
died from an abnormal swelling in the throat. His will ordered the creation of a foundation to safeguard the royal estate, which led to the creation of the ''Fundação da Casa de Bragança'' (''House of Braganza Foundation''). As part of this process, a systematic inventory and assessment was undertaken of the contents of the Palace by the DGEMN (''Direcção Geral dos Edifícios e Monumentos Nacionais'', "General-Directorate for Buildings and National Monuments") completed in 1938. Between 1945 and 1952 the DGMEN initiated public works to restore the Palace after years of neglect, supplemented by repairs to the roof in 1963. It was not until 18 May 1984 that the palace was opened to the public, including one of the largest and most varied permanent expositions of carriages in Europe. A re-tiling of the central wing was completed in 1985–1986, followed in 1989 by a similar project in the ''Ala dos Moços'' ("Children's Wing") in 1989.


Architecture

Located in the urban context of Vila Viçosa, the palace is situated on a stable plain at the foot of the castle hill. Rising above this context, on a grand space, it fronts other historical buildings, including the Church of the Augustine Friars ( pt, Igreja dos Agostinhos), the Episcopal Palace ( pt, Paço do Bispo, links=no) and Convent of the Stigmata ( pt, Convento das Chagas, links=no). The building consists of a grand rectangular profile, extending east to west, with three floors, and an irregular trapezoid structure to the north–south, with the roofing differently tiled above each of the spaces. The principal facade is fully lined with
ashlar Ashlar () is finely dressed (cut, worked) stone, either an individual stone that has been worked until squared, or a structure built from such stones. Ashlar is the finest stone masonry unit, generally rectangular cuboid, mentioned by Vitruv ...
masonry and pink Estremoz marble, corresponding to the three respective floors and central pediment broken by two main doorways. The rest of the facades are broken by a series of rectangular windows, that harmoniously divide the surface in a rhythmic classic pattern, some with semi-circular pediments and framed cornices.
Pilaster In classical architecture Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the ...
s and
architrave In classical architecture, an architrave (; from it, architrave "chief beam", also called an epistyle; from Greek ἐπίστυλον ''epistylon'' "door frame") is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of columns. The term can ...
s define the horizontal and vertical frames of many of the windows, giving the whole composition great sobriety and classicism. The ''Lady's Garden'' occupies a comparable space by the residence, consisting of symmetrical patterns interspersed with sculptures of ancient shells and royal cavalry.


Interior

Access to the residence is made across the vestibule. From this space is the main marble staircase and marble walls, as well as a painted mural fresco representing the ''Tomada de Azamor'' (''Taking of Azamor'') in northern Africa in 1513 by Portuguese troops, commanded by James, Duke of Braganza. On the left-side is the disembarkation ( pt, Desembarque), to the centre the preparations of the encirclement ( pt, Preparativos do Cerco, links=no) and to the right the conquest of the fortress ( pt, Conquista da Praça, links=no). In the first years of the 17th century, the palace received a decorative palette, considered "one of the richest group of fresco mural paintings encountered in Portuguese art". The rooms in the Palace extend along the horizontal plane, with a single corridor linking the spaces, including the ''Sala das Tapeçarias'' (''Tapestry Hall''), with
sillar Sillar is a variety of rhyolite, which is a type of volcanic rock. Although sillar is of rhyolitic composition, it has been erupted from volcanoes which mostly erupt andesite lava, and sillar contains small fragments of andesite. A pink variety of ...
covered in 17th-century polychromtic blue-and-white azulejo tile, white marble fireplace, tile floor, and vaulted ceiling with phytomorphic painting. Several of the main rooms include spaces with painted fresco ceilings, and 17th-century blue-and-white/yellow azulejo tile, such as the ''Sala do Gigante'' (''Hall of the Giant''), with 16th-century fresco depicting the biblical episode between
David and Goliath Goliath ( ) ''Goləyāṯ''; ar, جُليات ''Ǧulyāt'' (Christian term) or (Quranic term). is a character in the Book of Samuel, described as a Philistine giant defeated by the young David in single combat. The story signified King Saul's ...
, which is framed by the arms of the Dukes of Braganza; the ''Oratório da Duquesa'' (''Duchess' Oratory''); and''Sala de Medusa'' (''Hall of Medusa''), with a painted fresco representing the battle between
Medusa In Greek mythology, Medusa (; Ancient Greek: Μέδουσα "guardian, protectress"), also called Gorgo, was one of the three monstrous Gorgons, generally described as winged human females with living venomous snakes in place of hair. Those ...
and
Perseus In Greek mythology, Perseus (Help:IPA/English, /ˈpɜːrsiəs, -sjuːs/; Greek language, Greek: Περσεύς, Romanization of Greek, translit. Perseús) is the legendary founder of Mycenae and of the Perseid dynasty. He was, alongside Cadmus ...
. These group of paintings were''"largely faithful to the aesthetic canons of the Italianate Mannerists"''. The compositions are replent in Moorish-influenced motifs executed between 1600 and 1640 by different painters: Tomás Luís, famous Lisbon painter, was attributed to the ''"two notable mural eilingdecorations"'' in the ''Hall of Medusa'' and the gallery of Duchess Catherine and José de Avelar Rebelo painted the ceilings of the ''Music Pavilion''. The remainder of these rooms extend laterally through the accessway: the ''Sala de D. Duarte'' (''Edwards' Hall''), with a painted ceiling, with anthropomorphic elements and tiled floor; the ''Sala dos Duques'' (''Hall of the Dukes'') or ''Sala dos Tudescos'' is a noble salon and largest room in the building, decorated with frames of 17 Dukes of Braganza, from
Joseph I Joseph I or Josef I may refer to: *Joseph I of Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch in 1266–1275 and 1282–1283 * Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor (1678–1711) *Joseph I (Chaldean Patriarch) (reigned 1681–1696) *Joseph I of Portugal (1750–1777) ...
: the ''Sala das Virtues'' (''Hall of Virtues'') has an artesnal ceiling comprising framed paintings showing the seven theological virtues and morals, among them: ''Fé'' (''Faith''), ''Esperança'' (''Hope''), ''Caridade'' (''Charity''),''Prudência'' (''Prudence''), ''Justiça'' (''Justice''), ''Forteleza'' (''Strength''), ''Temperança'' (''Temperance'') and ''Sapiência'' (''Wisdom''); and the''Sala de Jantar'' (''Dining Hall'') there is a similarly paneled ceiling with medallions, decorated in classical and mythological motifs. The rooms five doorways give access to the ''Jardim das Damas'' (''Lady's Garden''). A chapel, referred to as the ''Sala dos Paramento/Órgãos'' (''Hall of the Vestments/Organ'') is covered in a vaulted ceiling with comparably painted roof frames. The ''Pavilhão da Música'' (''Music Pavilion'') is an exceptional example: it consists of a painted wood ceiling, sillar with 17th-century azulejo tile depicting figures in panchromatic tiles in yellow, blue, green and red, representing the history of Tobit ( pt, Tobiãs) with the coat-of-arms of the Dukes of Braganza, and signed FIAB. In addition, there are several other "named" rooms in palace, including the ''Sala D. Duarte'' ('' D. Duarte's Hall''), ''Sala D. Fernando II'' ('' Ferdinand's Hall''), ''Sala do Século 17'' (''17th-century Hall''), ''Sala da Restauração'' (''Restoration Hall''), ''Sala de Hércules'' (''Hall of Hercules''), ''Sala Dourada ou da Duquesa'' (''Golden Hall'' or ''Duchess Hall''), named for
Catherine Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christ ...
wife of the 6th Duke, the ''Sala da Cabra Cega'' (''Hall of the Blind Goat''); ''Sala Indo-Portuguesa'' (''Portuguese-India Hall''); ''Sala das Loiças'' (''Hall of Dishware''); ''Sala dos Vidros'' (''Hall of Glass''); ''Sala dos Reis'' (''Kings' Hall''); the armory; and the famous wing of the ''New Quarters'', named for the fact that it acted as the residence and studies for the King, with diverse antechambers, and corridors. Near the kitchen are the ovens, wine cellars, avery and storage spaces.


Azulejos

There are two panels (1558) made by Flemish Joan Boagerts in
Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,
. The rest of the historical
azulejo ''Azulejo'' (, ; from the Arabic ''al- zillīj'', ) is a form of Spanish and Portuguese painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework. ''Azulejos'' are found on the interior and exterior of churches, palaces, ordinary houses, schools, and nowadays, resta ...
s (17th-century) that has the Ducal Palace are located in the Sala do Gigante and were made by Spanish
Talavera de la Reina pottery Talavera de la Reina pottery is a traditional type of faience, or tin-glazed earthenware made in Talavera de la Reina, Toledo (Spain). The area has a long history of pottery, and dishes, jars, ceramics and other objects have been found in recen ...
, are of the very few of the kind still implanted in the place where they were designed, after the destruction of the historic center of
Guadalajara Guadalajara ( , ) is a metropolis in western Mexico and the capital of the list of states of Mexico, state of Jalisco. According to the 2020 census, the city has a population of 1,385,629 people, making it the 7th largest city by population in Me ...
during the
Spanish Civil War The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, lin ...
.


References

;Notes ;Sources * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vila Vicosa, Ducal Palace of Palaces in Portugal Royal residences in Portugal House of Braganza Dukes of Braganza Renaissance architecture in Portugal Renaissance buildings and structures Buildings and structures in Évora District Museums in Évora District Historic house museums in Portugal Buildings and structures in Vila Viçosa National monuments in Évora District