Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 40.6833373300282, -7.703328710702745

Casa da Ínsua or Solar dos Albuquerques is a baroque palace located in the parish of Ínsua, municipality of Penalva do Castelo, district of Viseu.

It has a palace, used as the owners' residence (currently operated as a hotel), a chapel and several outbuildings necessary for the operation of the farm, such as accommodation for services and staff.

The gardens are divided into formal gardens and English gardens, and there is also a large pond and a terrace that communicates with the house and gardens.

Casa da Ínsua, including the entire set formed by the gardens, patio, lakes, gates and the northern part of the farm, has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984.

History

There used to be the first Casa da Ínsua in this location, ordered to be erected by João de Albuquerque e Castro, Mayor of Sabugal, of which the Chapel and the terrace survive (albeit with later alterations).

The house that exists today was ordered built in the second half of the 18th century by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres, captain general of Mato Grosso and Cuibá (Brazil). He handed over the project to the architect José Francisco de Paiva (he was attributed this by analogy with his other works).

The property was passed down through the different generations through the morgadio regime, that is, a bond of succession of the family's assets to the eldest son without the possibility of selling them. The Casa da Ínsua was, however, a particular case, in which the transfer of property rights from uncles to male nephews was established (provided they remained single).

Two cannons marked 1776 and 1793 remain at the entrance to the house, which were used in the Battle of Buçaco, during the French Invasions.

In the 19th century, the palace was the subject of improvement works by the Italian architect Nicola Bigaglia, who, in addition to designing the patio fountain and the farm gates, also adapted the house to the modern comforts and equipment that the century of progress demanded.

The farm had the only ice factory in the region, a hydroelectric generator and agricultural units that still operate today, such as cellars and wine presses.

The house still belonged to Engineer João de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres in 1969, and in 1970 a fire broke out that consumed the vast library accumulated by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres. Thus, a huge set of documents referring to Brazil in the 18th century was lost.

He was heir to the aforementioned João de Albuquerque and his great-nephew Vicente de Olazábal y Brito e Cunha, son of the Counts of Arbelaiz, in Spain.

Although still owned by the family, the Casa is now a luxury hotel operated by the Paradores of Spain.

Characteristics

The architectural scheme of Casa da Ínsua is traditionally Portuguese, with an extensive body built between two towers, which comprises the main façade. An eastern front, where the residence joins the chapel and the service and staff houses to form a courtyard, with the granite fountain (designed by Bigaglia in 1849) in the center.

The exterior is eminently baroque and very similar to other Portuguese manor houses of the same period, distinguishing itself from these by the purely decorative pentagonal battlements trepanned with fleur-de-lis, and also by the cannon-shaped gutters. These architectural details reinforce the antiquity of the house and the family that built it, romantic evocations of the Middle Ages.

The main floor (especially the façade facing the garden) has tall, elegant windows framed in Baroque and Rococo stonework. The upper floor of the towers has similar windows but with railings, iron details that are repeated on the balconies overlooking the garden, the one in the south tower would later be closed.

On the west façade we find the coat of arms of the Albuquerques and Pereiras, a Rocaille coat of arms with a shield in a peak, right in the center of the upper floor of the turret.

Inside

Inside, the lobby stands out, marked by an imposing granite staircase with carved volutes, the ceilings painted with the coat of arms of the Albuquerques, Pereira, Melo and Cáceres, as well as a vast array of indigenous and hunting weapons, brought, presumably, from by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres during his stay in Brazil.

The reception room (to the left of the foyer) features painted wallpaper, attributed to Z. Zuber (1827) and decorated by J. M. Gué.

The Portrait Room houses paintings by the lords of the Casa da Ínsua, notably the equestrian portrait of Francisco de Albuquerque e Castro (c.1620-c.1690) by Félix da Costa Meesen (1639?-1712) and that of Luís from Albuquerque de Melo Pereira and Cáceres.

The rooms have a typical Portuguese style, with wooden coffered ceilings, tile ashlars and curtains embroidered with the family coat of arms (a very present element, both outside and inside the building). There are also several examples of Asian furniture and exotic wood pieces acquired by the lords of Ínsua on their travels and as a symbol of high status.

Chapel

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição features the coat of arms of the Albuquerques on the outside, above the door, as well as a belfry with five overlapping bells and a sixth on top (a rare combination that goes back to the origins of the chapel).

Inside the chapel, with a single nave, we find tiles, a painted dome and a neoclassical polychrome altarpiece executed by Luigi Bastitini in the 20th century.

Gardens

The main façade of the house (from which you can admire both the turrets and the windows on the main floor) faces the swan pond and the boxwood gardens, which are spread over two terraces. The boxwoods, planted in 1856, form harmonious designs, from the house's coat of arms to the fans and cornucopias, which are colored by the camellias and rose bushes planted in the mid-19th century. The water tank houses swans and lotus flowers, also helping to irrigate the property and operate the various fountains spread throughout it.

The English Garden comprises an area of ​​large trees such as sequoias and brazilwood trees (brought by Luís de Albuquerque), a eucalyptus tree over 50 meters high and even cedars from Lebanon. In the garden there is also the “Fonte dos Meninos”, executed by Nicola Bigaglia.

The Terrace, extended to the south at the level of the main floor, next to the dining room, is one of the oldest elements of the Baroque architecture, dating back to the 17th century. It is a terrace of stone slabs with a small wall intersected by artillery pieces dating from 1844 and marked "Casa da Ínsua" (possibly decorative). The opposite wall is tiled, with a fountain and a vertical sundial standing out.

Gallery

Versão portuguesa aqui.

GPS 40.6833373300282, -7.703328710702745

Casa da Ínsua or Solar dos Albuquerques is a baroque palace located in the parish of Ínsua, municipality of Penalva do Castelo, district of Viseu.

It has a palace, used as the owners' residence (currently operated as a hotel), a chapel and several outbuildings necessary for the operation of the farm, such as accommodation for services and staff.

The gardens are divided into formal gardens and English gardens, and there is also a large pond and a terrace that communicates with the house and gardens.

Casa da Ínsua, including the entire set formed by the gardens, patio, lakes, gates and the northern part of the farm, has been classified as a Property of Public Interest since 1984.

History

There used to be the first Casa da Ínsua in this location, ordered to be erected by João de Albuquerque e Castro, Mayor of Sabugal, of which the Chapel and the terrace survive (albeit with later alterations).

The house that exists today was ordered built in the second half of the 18th century by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres, captain general of Mato Grosso and Cuibá (Brazil). He handed over the project to the architect José Francisco de Paiva (he was attributed this by analogy with his other works).

The property was passed down through the different generations through the morgadio regime, that is, a bond of succession of the family's assets to the eldest son without the possibility of selling them. The Casa da Ínsua was, however, a particular case, in which the transfer of property rights from uncles to male nephews was established (provided they remained single).

Two cannons marked 1776 and 1793 remain at the entrance to the house, which were used in the Battle of Buçaco, during the French Invasions.

In the 19th century, the palace was the subject of improvement works by the Italian architect Nicola Bigaglia, who, in addition to designing the patio fountain and the farm gates, also adapted the house to the modern comforts and equipment that the century of progress demanded.

The farm had the only ice factory in the region, a hydroelectric generator and agricultural units that still operate today, such as cellars and wine presses.

The house still belonged to Engineer João de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres in 1969, and in 1970 a fire broke out that consumed the vast library accumulated by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres. Thus, a huge set of documents referring to Brazil in the 18th century was lost.

He was heir to the aforementioned João de Albuquerque and his great-nephew Vicente de Olazábal y Brito e Cunha, son of the Counts of Arbelaiz, in Spain.

Although still owned by the family, the Casa is now a luxury hotel operated by the Paradores of Spain.

Characteristics

The architectural scheme of Casa da Ínsua is traditionally Portuguese, with an extensive body built between two towers, which comprises the main façade. An eastern front, where the residence joins the chapel and the service and staff houses to form a courtyard, with the granite fountain (designed by Bigaglia in 1849) in the center.

The exterior is eminently baroque and very similar to other Portuguese manor houses of the same period, distinguishing itself from these by the purely decorative pentagonal battlements trepanned with fleur-de-lis, and also by the cannon-shaped gutters. These architectural details reinforce the antiquity of the house and the family that built it, romantic evocations of the Middle Ages.

The main floor (especially the façade facing the garden) has tall, elegant windows framed in Baroque and Rococo stonework. The upper floor of the towers has similar windows but with railings, iron details that are repeated on the balconies overlooking the garden, the one in the south tower would later be closed.

On the west façade we find the coat of arms of the Albuquerques and Pereiras, a Rocaille coat of arms with a shield in a peak, right in the center of the upper floor of the turret.

Inside

Inside, the lobby stands out, marked by an imposing granite staircase with carved volutes, the ceilings painted with the coat of arms of the Albuquerques, Pereira, Melo and Cáceres, as well as a vast array of indigenous and hunting weapons, brought, presumably, from by Luís de Albuquerque de Melo Pereira e Cáceres during his stay in Brazil.

The reception room (to the left of the foyer) features painted wallpaper, attributed to Z. Zuber (1827) and decorated by J. M. Gué.

The Portrait Room houses paintings by the lords of the Casa da Ínsua, notably the equestrian portrait of Francisco de Albuquerque e Castro (c.1620-c.1690) by Félix da Costa Meesen (1639?-1712) and that of Luís from Albuquerque de Melo Pereira and Cáceres.

The rooms have a typical Portuguese style, with wooden coffered ceilings, tile ashlars and curtains embroidered with the family coat of arms (a very present element, both outside and inside the building). There are also several examples of Asian furniture and exotic wood pieces acquired by the lords of Ínsua on their travels and as a symbol of high status.

Chapel

The Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição features the coat of arms of the Albuquerques on the outside, above the door, as well as a belfry with five overlapping bells and a sixth on top (a rare combination that goes back to the origins of the chapel).

Inside the chapel, with a single nave, we find tiles, a painted dome and a neoclassical polychrome altarpiece executed by Luigi Bastitini in the 20th century.

Gardens

The main façade of the house (from which you can admire both the turrets and the windows on the main floor) faces the swan pond and the boxwood gardens, which are spread over two terraces. The boxwoods, planted in 1856, form harmonious designs, from the house's coat of arms to the fans and cornucopias, which are colored by the camellias and rose bushes planted in the mid-19th century. The water tank houses swans and lotus flowers, also helping to irrigate the property and operate the various fountains spread throughout it.

The English Garden comprises an area of ​​large trees such as sequoias and brazilwood trees (brought by Luís de Albuquerque), a eucalyptus tree over 50 meters high and even cedars from Lebanon. In the garden there is also the “Fonte dos Meninos”, executed by Nicola Bigaglia.

The Terrace, extended to the south at the level of the main floor, next to the dining room, is one of the oldest elements of the Baroque architecture, dating back to the 17th century. It is a terrace of stone slabs with a small wall intersected by artillery pieces dating from 1844 and marked "Casa da Ínsua" (possibly decorative). The opposite wall is tiled, with a fountain and a vertical sundial standing out.

Gallery