Palácio de Midões is a

palace A palace is a large residence, often serving as a royal residence or the home for a head of state or another high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome whi ...

located in the village of Midões, Tabua,

Portugal Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic, is a country on the Iberian Peninsula in Southwestern Europe. Featuring Cabo da Roca, the westernmost point in continental Europe, Portugal borders Spain to its north and east, with which it share ...

. It was built in the nineteenth century by Dr. César Ribeiro de Abranches Castelo-Branco (the 2nd Viscount of Midões), the son of Roque Ribeiro de Abranches Castelo-Branco (the 1st Viscount of Midões), the latter of whom commissioned the neighbouring property known as Solar do Ribeirinho. The Palace is also known as the Palace of Four Seasons (or in Portuguese, 'Palácio das Quatro Estações'), represented by the four

allegorical sculptures As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory throughout ...

located above the main entrance, each one representing a season: spring, summer, autumn, and winter. The Palace is a key historical

landmark A landmark is a recognizable natural or artificial feature used for navigation, a feature that stands out from its near environment and is often visible from long distances. In modern-day use, the term can also be applied to smaller structures ...

. It housed the noble Ribeiro de Branches Castelo-Branco family, who not only held key political positions in their own right, but also had close ties to the

crown A crown is a traditional form of head adornment, or hat, worn by monarchs as a symbol of their power and dignity. A crown is often, by extension, a symbol of the monarch's government or items endorsed by it. The word itself is used, parti ...

and important

historical figure A historical figure is a significant person in history, who may have made important cultural, social, political, scientific or technological impacts on humanity. They are often widely known for their achievements, whether favourably or unfavoura ...

s such as

João Brandão João is a given name of Portuguese origin. It is equivalent to the given name John. The diminutive is Joãozinho and the feminine is Joana. It is widespread in Portuguese-speaking countries. Notable people with the name are enumerated in the s ...

, who was elected councillor and fiscal of the county of Midões in 1853.

Sources

Buildings and structures in Coimbra District Palaces in Portugal Tábua {{Portugal-struct-stub