PORTUGAL GUIMARAES - (PALACE OF DUKES OF BRAGANCA)

PACO DOS DUQUES DE BRAGANCAGA

(PALACE  OF DUKES OF BRAGANCA)

Dating back to the first half of the 15t century , this majestic manor house was ordered built by D.Afonso.,ileegitimate son of D. Joao I, 8^th Count of Barclos and 1^st Duke of Braganca, at the time one of  the richest and most powerful men of Portugal .

It was in this palace that D.Afonso lived with his second wife, D.Constanca de Noronha, known as the Duchess Saint.It is belived that , after becoming a widow, she dedicated herself exclusively to a religious life and too aiding the more impoverished population .At that time, the ducal palace would have permanently open to the needy.The building , which underwent a long period of abandonment ,currently houses ne off the country’s most visited museum , featuring a diversified collection of decorative  arts from 17^th and 18^th centuries.

The set off replicas of Pastrana tapestries-the design of which is attributed to painter Nuno Goncalves depicting some episode of the conquests in North Africa- is one of the highlights from the various collections, as are the Flemish and French Aubussoon tapestries, the collection of three Salting oriental carpets , the oriental porcelain pieces – notably those from the Indies Compant –Portuguese faience from the main factories of the time, paintings , diverse array of furniture and a set of weapons. The Paco dos Duques de Braganca is , since 1910 ,classified as a National Palace and official residence for the Presidency.