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PALÁCIO FRONTEIRA

Natural site
4.4/5
28 review
Open - from 10h00 to 18h00 Opening hours

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Carte de l'emplacement de l'établissement
Fundação das Casas de Fronteira e Alorna, 1, Largo São Domingos de Benfica, Lisbon, Portugal
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2024
Recommended
2024

Palace with an Italian Renaissance garden hosting cultural activities for the general public with thematic routes.

This palace is one of the most beautiful in the country, built in the 17th century by the first Marquis da Fronteira, D. João Mascarenhas. Built in the 17th century by the first Marquis da Fronteira, D. João Mascarenhas, it is one of the country's most beautiful residences, and is still inhabited by his descendants. Hence the fact that it can only be visited during very restricted opening hours. Surrounded by an Italian Renaissance garden that is both breathtaking and marvellous, the palace (also of Italian inspiration!) and garden feature facades adorned with superb Portuguese azulejos. Reflected in the vast pool it overlooks, the Kings' Gallery is certainly the most striking feature of the garden. It featuresazulejo panels depicting fourteen knights at full gallop. Twelve of these are said to be English knights, the other two knights from the Mascarenhas family. This group of figurativeazulejos is considered to be the finest of the 17th century. The busts above them represent the fifteen Portuguese sovereigns. Further on, the twelve months of the year are depicted on large panels. The Casa do Fresco (freshness pavilion) is decorated with curious inlays of Ming porcelain, shells and glassware. The somewhat faded palace also houses a fantastic collection ofazulejos (chromic and bichromic) inspired by Chinese motifs and Dutch colors. The walls of the Hall of Battles, the most beautiful of all, are covered with 17th-centuryazulejos, recounting the battles and victories of the Portuguese against the Spanish during the War of Restoration (1644-1668). Like a comic strip, you'll be amazed at some of the playful scenes. Outside, the large flower-filled terrace is adorned with nine mythological marble statues and niches containingazulejo panels with allegorical figures. The exterior walls of the buildings are not to be trifled with in terms of insolence and provocation, notably with a bestiary parodying human society, with representations of cats and monkeys in drag as irreverent as possible... Among the many curiosities is a representation of a Japanese man wearing diving goggles.. The Casas de Fronteira e Alorna Foundation, created by the 12th Marquis of Fronteira, also offers regular cultural activities for the general public, including concerts, lectures on the history of Portugal and monthly themed tours (in Portuguese).


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4.4/5
28 reviews
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Visited in april 2024
Il faut prendre en considération que c'est un site privé alors les lieux manquent d'entretien
Vaut la peine de visiter mais ce n'est pas un site incontournable à Lisbonne
Visited in april 2024
Une très belle visite.
Pas surpeuplé comme d'autres palais de Lisbonne, Chaque pièce raconte une histoire.
Les jardins sont simples mais magnifiques.
Un grand merci à notre guide (Pedro) pour nous avoir transmis avec passion l'histoire de ce palais et de la famille qui l'occupe.
Visited in april 2024
A truly amazing palacio! The ticket valid for both the inside of the palace and the gardens visit is little expensive (15E) but worth every penny, it´s a very unique and enchanting place! The tour with Miguel was super interesting, we learned a lot and did not see time pass - he´s an exceptional guide! thank you
Visited in april 2024
So worn out but so pretty because it is worn out. We couldn’t see black swans sadly since they are cleaning the pond. Still it was good to spend an hour there.
Visited in april 2024
Красивый сад, удобный паркинг снаружи.
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