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, 8th Count of Barclos and 1st 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 17th and 18th
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.
