Description of the attraction
The Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, which is opposite the chapel of São Miguel do Castelo, was built in the 15th century by the future first Duke of Bragança, Don Alfonso. The facade of the palace is formed by 39 unusual brick pipes and its appearance resembles the architecture of France at that time, where this style was used in the construction of many palaces and mansions.
At one time, the palace was used as a military barracks. And during the era of the dictatorship of Salazar, it was the official residence of the president. In the middle of the 20th century, after the building had stood in desolation for a long time and suffered greatly from the development of a quarry next to it, restoration work was carried out and the palace became a museum, where objects reflecting the lifestyle and interiors of Portugal of the XVII century were exhibited for all to see. -XVIII centuries. Among the exhibits of the museum, the collection of Flemish tapestries attracts special attention. They depict paintings of the Portuguese conquest of North Africa, with each tapestry representing a specific battle. The museum also displays a collection of art portraits, porcelain products, Persian carpets and furniture of the 17th-18th centuries. The museum has an armory room, where you can see an extensive collection of weapons from the 15th-19th centuries. Of particular interest is the so-called banquet hall, which is decorated with an unusual wooden ceiling, shaped like an inverted ship bottom.
In addition to serving as a museum, the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza is also the official residence of the President of the Portuguese Republic during his official visits to the north of Portugal.
