{"id":85956,"date":"2024-06-25T14:49:52","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T13:49:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/horto\/palacio-de-palhava-stately-memories\/"},"modified":"2026-03-02T10:10:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T10:10:26","slug":"palacio-de-palhava-stately-memories","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/garden\/palacio-de-palhava-stately-memories\/","title":{"rendered":"Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3, stately memories"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 embodies all the architectural grandeur and artistic aura of an imposing 17th-century manor house. Its walls perpetuate stories and, in every corner, you can feel the whispering of the many influences that, over time, have enriched its artistic legacy. The palace is currently the official residence of the Spanish Ambassador to Portugal.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Brief historical background<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The construction of the Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3, on the estate of the same name located in the parish of S\u00e3o Sebasti\u00e3o da Pedreira in Lisbon, dates back to 1660, commissioned by the 2nd Count of Sarzedas, D. Lu\u00eds Lobo da Silveira. The palace was thus built in a rural area near the historic centre, known at the time as the Palhav\u00e3 site, and served as the Sarzedas family residence for many years. The eldest son, D. Rodrigo da Silveira, was the main driving force behind the completion of the palace, particularly the haughty noble portal where the Sarzedas coat of arms could be identified.<\/p>\n\n

Until 1918, when the palace was acquired by the Spanish Government as the official residence for the Spanish Ambassador, the Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 was the scene of successive occupations, mostly by noble families. Notable residents after the Sarzedas (1668-1747) included the \u201cMeninos da Palhav\u00e3\u201d (1747-1760 \/ 1778-1801) and the Counts of Azambuja (from 1860). Underlying each transition through the palace is a mix of influences, and many changes were made to its contents, namely restoration works that made their mark. But nothing altered its grandeur and symbolism, and today, this palace and its gardens continue to be synonymous with prestige and charm.<\/p>\n\n

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\"Palácio<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Palácio<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\"Palácio<\/figure>\n\n

Main periods of palace occupation<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

As the 4th Countess of Sarzedas died in 1747 without direct descendants, the Quinta de Palhav\u00e3 and the assets of the House of Sarzedas were inherited by D. Francisco Xavier de Menezes, 6th Count of Ericeira and 2nd Marquis of Louri\u00e7al, who was married to the daughter of the 2nd Count of Sarzedas. In that same year, the Quinta de Palhav\u00e3 was leased to become the residence of the three illegitimate sons of King D. Jo\u00e3o V \u2013 D. Ant\u00f3nio, D. Gaspar, and D. Jos\u00e9 \u2013 who became known as the \u201cMeninos da Palhav\u00e3\u201d (the Boys of Palhav\u00e3). This period of occupation covers two moments. The first lasted until 1760, when the boys were exiled to Bu\u00e7aco by order of the Marquis of Pombal, and a second marked their return between 1778 and 1801.<\/p>\n\n

In 1833, during the Liberal Wars, the House suffered a violent attack that left it heavily damaged. The property remained in a precarious state until 1860, when the 3rd Count of Azambuja acquired the estate and palace on the occasion of his marriage and began an extensive plan of improvement and restoration work under the responsibility of Possid\u00f3nio da Silva, architect to the Royal House. The remodeling of Palhav\u00e3 should be considered a large-scale intervention that benefited all rooms and quarters through the replacement of interiors and the good taste and richness of the materials used, giving rise to an artistic language that remains to this day without significant changes.<\/p>\n\n

It was also during this period of Palhav\u00e3’s recovery that the coat of arms, still visible today, was placed at the top of the noble portal that gives access to the residence’s main courtyard. On the back of the coat of arms, the letter A of the Azambuja family can be seen.<\/p>\n\n

In the Azambuja era, Palhav\u00e3 was recognised as one of the most refined stages of Lisbon society, hosting some of the most praised balls and parties.<\/p>\n\n

In this majestic palace, where the counts’ eleven children were born, the Count of Azambuja would pass away in 1914, an event that marked the end of an era.<\/p>\n\n

In 1918, Francisco de Almeida Grandella, an influential businessman, bought the estate and palace from the heirs of the Count of Azambuja. Meanwhile, the Spanish Government showed interest in acquiring a dignified residence for diplomatic occupation, and the choice fell on the Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3. Francisco de Almeida Grandella agreed to sell the property, though by then a large part of the surrounding grounds had been excised, where the Bairro Azul would be built in the 1930s.<\/p>\n\n

The year 1936 marked the largest remodeling project of the palace after its acquisition by the Spanish State, with architect Pedro Muguruza Ota\u00f1o responsible for the project.<\/p>\n\n

Later, following the acts of vandalism in 1975, the palace inevitably became the subject of new restorations. By the time of the first State visit to Portugal by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia in 1978, the Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 had already regained the splendour and opulence that have always characterised it. Today, all its rooms share the same beauty, comfort, and artistic richness, serving as an invitation to relive the history of times past.<\/p>\n\n

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\"Palácio<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Palácio<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

Historic gardens \u2013 the landscape as a witness<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n

The intervention of the architects hired for the various conservation works on the property and the interest shown by the palace’s various occupants in the art of botany were clearly present in the enrichment that the palace’s majestic green spaces witnessed over time. Alongside the diversity of vegetation, the sculptural groups\u2014whose location does not seem to have changed over the centuries\u2014are undoubtedly among the elements that have contributed most to the artistic enrichment and recreational value of these green spaces typical of grand stately residences. The fountains, with statues mostly alluding to mythological figures, were largely commissioned from foreign sculptors who drew inspiration from the artistic influences of their respective eras. Even today, these fountains, loaded with symbolism, are true works of art that lend an aura of grandeur to the palace gardens.<\/p>\n\n

\"Palácio<\/figure>\n\n

\u201cThe Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 continues to serve its representational purposes,gaining in the new millennium an awareness of its architectural identity and of a historical memory dating back to the 17th century\u201d<\/p>\n\n

art historian Jos\u00e9 de Monterroso Teixeira, in \u201cThe Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 \u2013 Architecture and Representation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n

The standardisation of the tree canopy across the three levels of the garden has restored a new visual balance, allowed for greater natural light, and highlighted the century-old trees that frame the space\u2014such as Palms, Jacarandas, Magnolias, and a magnificent Horse Chestnut\u2014bringing a new life to this area.<\/p>\n\n

The wide and well-kept lawn, which often hosts embassy parties and events, is flanked by flowerbeds where various species of flowers\u2014roses and hydrangeas\u2014plants like bird of paradise, and shrubs coexist harmoniously. With a drip irrigation system and the daily, attentive care of the gardening team, all species bloom healthily and harmoniously, serving to create beautiful floral and decorative arrangements found displayed in the palace’s magnificent rooms.<\/p>\n\n

\"Palácio<\/figure>\n\n

Information source:<\/p>\n\n

Album \u201cThe Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 \u2013 Architecture and Representation\u201d, with texts by Jos\u00e9 de Monterroso Teixeira and photography by Laura Castro Caldas and Paulo Cintra; published by the Embassy of Spain in 2008.More than three centuries after the construction of the Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3, there is much to be said about its historical identity and architectural and artistic expression. Reading this album and contemplating the photographic images that illustrate it are an irresistible invitation to gain a deep and authentic understanding of its historical and artistic evolution.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Pal\u00e1cio de Palhav\u00e3 embodies all the architectural grandeur and artistic aura of an imposing 17th-century manor house. Its walls perpetuate stories and, in every corner, you can feel the whispering of the many influences that, over time, have enriched its artistic legacy. The palace is currently the official residence of the Spanish Ambassador to Portugal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13296,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[777],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-85956","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-garden"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/01_HCG_blog_intro_1200x752px-1-2.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Hugo Silva","author_link":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/author\/hugos\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85956","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=85956"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/85956\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13296"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=85956"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=85956"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hortodocampogrande.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=85956"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}