PALACE OF AJUDA

Description

Essentials about the Palace of Ajuda in brief

A visit to the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda (Palace of Ajuda) is like a journey back in time to the former world of the Portuguese royal family. The National Palace, located in the district of Ajuda, was once the residence of the Portuguese monarchs and after almost 800 years their rule ended here when the last King Emanuel II had to flee Portugal in 1910. Today, the Palace of Ajuda is a museum in whose beautiful halls one can marvel at the exquisite interior decoration and the important art collections of the former Portuguese monarchs.

The history of the Palace of Ajuda

The palace was built in its current form at the beginning of the 19th century by José da Costa e Silva in the style of classicism, after the previous building burned down in 1795. Work began in 1802, but construction had to be interrupted several times over time, so that the palace was not opened until 1861.

In 1861, the Palace of Ajuda became the permanent residence of the royal family after Dom Luís I became king in the same year and married the Italian princess Maria Pia of Savoy. From the proclamation of the Republic in 1910 until 1938, the Palace of Ajuda remained closed and was then transformed into a museum. Nevertheless, the palace regularly hosts the most important receptions of the Portuguese President.

The exhibition in the Palace of Ajuda

The palace is a typical example of a 19th century royal residence and houses a considerable collection of decorative arts, such as jewelry, paintings, sculptures, furniture, tapestries, glass and porcelain. Most impressive is the Sala Saxe, a gift from the King of Saxony to Maria Pia, where all the furniture is decorated with Meissen porcelain. The king’s studio, the ballrooms and the huge banquet hall with its crystal chandeliers and silk-covered chairs are also very beautiful. The ceiling fresco of the hall shows an allegory of the birth of King Dom João VI.