The Mateus Palace ( pt, Palácio de Mateus, Solar de Mateus or Casa de Mateus) is a
palace
A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...
located in the civil parish of Mateus,
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 Real
Vila Real () is the capital and largest city of the Vila Real District, in the North region. It is also the seat of the Douro intermunicipal community and of the Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro historical province. The Vila Real municipality cover ...
, Portugal. The three primary buildings are the manor, the winery and the chapel.
The winery buildings date from the 16th century and were modified in the 1800s. Architect
Nicolau Nasoni
Nicolau Nasoni (or originally Niccoló Nasoni, 2 June 1691 – 30 August 1773) was an Italian artist and architect mostly active in Portugal.
He became one of the most influential figures in Portuguese Baroque architecture with his original and v ...
was involved in the project for the construction of the palace, which took place in the 18th century, possibly between 1739 and 1743, according to one expert. The work was authorized by António José Botelho Mourão, 3rd Morgado of Mateus. The current manor replaced the former family house which was built in the same location in the early 1600s. In 1910, it was classified as a National Monument. The palace is owned by the Mateus Foundation.
It gives the name to the
Mateus rosé wine brand.
The manor house
The palace
[Notice SIPA n° 5990 ](_blank)
/ref> is constructed following a rectangular plan open to the west, blocked by a building which demarcates a main courtyard and behind a private quadrangle.
Between the doorway and the courtyard, an ornamental pond, surrounded by trees, serves as a mirror.
The courtyard, opened like a U, is closed off by a balustrade.
Between the wings, the courtyard is closed by a transversing decorated structure of an emblazoned pediment, encircled by two statue guards in baroque style.
Its interior decoration includes some intricately carved chestnut wood ceilings, furniture from several periods, 17th and 18th century paintings and a library with many books.
The garden
Parts of the garden had been planted in the 1700s, modified in 1870 and expanded in 1930. In the 1950s and 1960s, the garden area was extensively modified and the lake was added to act as a mirror reflecting the manor house. A dense planting of chestnut and oak trees was added in the 1970s. The sculpture of a woman "sleeping" in the water was created by João Cutileiro and installed in 1981.[http://www.casademateus.com/sightseeing-wine-tourism/gardens/?lang=en, Gardens]
Gallery
File:Casa de Mateus chapel exterior.jpg, Chapel exterior
File:Casa de Mateus (Mateus Palace) chapel interior, Portugal.jpg, Chapel interior
File:Part of the Garden, Casa de Mateus B, September 2019.tif, Part of the Garden, September 2019
File:Ww h mateus garden 6375.jpg, A section of the symmetrical area of the garden
See also
* List of Baroque residences
This is a list of Baroque architecture, Baroque palaces and Residenz, residences built in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Baroque architecture is a building style of the Baroque, Baroque era, begun in late 16th-century Italy and spread in Europe ...
References
External links
Website of the palace
The Administrators of the Casa de Mateus (since the 16c)
{{Authority control
Houses completed in 1743
Palaces in Portugal
Buildings and structures in Vila Real District
Museums in Vila Real District
Historic house museums in Portugal
Gardens in Portugal
Buildings and structures in Vila Real
1743 establishments in Portugal
National monuments in Vila Real District