Lisbon - Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira 
It is certainly worth visiting the somewhat remote private palace and attractive garden of the Mascarenha family on the northern edge of the Parque Florestal de Monsanto.
Joao Mascarenha had the house built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1670. At that time his family lived in Lisbon and only moved here in 1755, after their city residence had been destroyed by the earthquake; members of the family still live on the estate today.
Joao Mascarenha had the house built in the Italian Renaissance style in 1670. At that time his family lived in Lisbon and only moved here in 1755, after their city residence had been destroyed by the earthquake; members of the family still live on the estate today.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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In 1989 a foundation was set up to deal with the maintenance of the palace and the garden and the staging of cultural events. The family bears the title of the Count of Mascarenha following an honor bestowed on a Mascarenha during the wars of restoration.
In the course of a guided tour an interesting view can be had of some of the rooms. The Sala das Batalhas (Hall of Battles) is decorated with tiles depicting scenes of different encounters, which helped restore to Portugal independence from Spain in 1640. Concerts are sometimes staged in this room, its good acoustics have led to it being used as a recording studio. A private library with 17th C. works has been installed in the formerly open veranda. From here there is a fine view of the well laid out garden. In another room tiles can be seen which are some of the first imported into Portugal from Delft in the 17th C. The pictures show pastoral scenes and hunting scenes as well as musical instruments, from which it can be deduced that a music room was once located here. The Juno room, whose ceiling is painted with a picture of the goddess Juno, is used today as a reception room.
In some of the living rooms and also in the dining room there are striking examples of valuable tiled panels as well as furniture and porcelain from Portugal, France, China and India dating from the 17th C. and the 18th C. and family portraits from the early 19th C.
In the course of a guided tour an interesting view can be had of some of the rooms. The Sala das Batalhas (Hall of Battles) is decorated with tiles depicting scenes of different encounters, which helped restore to Portugal independence from Spain in 1640. Concerts are sometimes staged in this room, its good acoustics have led to it being used as a recording studio. A private library with 17th C. works has been installed in the formerly open veranda. From here there is a fine view of the well laid out garden. In another room tiles can be seen which are some of the first imported into Portugal from Delft in the 17th C. The pictures show pastoral scenes and hunting scenes as well as musical instruments, from which it can be deduced that a music room was once located here. The Juno room, whose ceiling is painted with a picture of the goddess Juno, is used today as a reception room.
In some of the living rooms and also in the dining room there are striking examples of valuable tiled panels as well as furniture and porcelain from Portugal, France, China and India dating from the 17th C. and the 18th C. and family portraits from the early 19th C.
Things to See
Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira - Chapel
By following a long terrace, decorated with mythological figures and 17th C. tiles portraying the arts, a small chapel is reached. It was built in 1584, before the Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira was built on the later landholding.
Palacio dos Marqueses de Fronteira - Venus Garden
From the chapel, the part of the park known as the Venus Garden, enclosed by the palace and the mountains, is reached. It owes its name to the Venus fountain in the center: three dolphins carry a shell from which the goddess is climbing.
In one corner of the estate is a former pool with many gargoyles, behind this an artificial grotto, whose walls incorporate pieces of broken pottery. It is thought that a royal feast took place at the official opening of the palace; to ensure that the crockery was only used once for this purpose it was broken at the end of the meal and the pieces set into the wall of the grotto. The so called Italian Garden is particularly worth visiting. This approximately 4,000sq.m/43,056sq.ft garden area was laid out in the Italian style in the 17th C. At that time some natural springs were used in the construction of several fountains and a particularly fine large pond. This pond is flanked by two wide flights of steps giving access to a gallery extending the whole length of the pond. Especially impressive is the blue of the 17th C. tiles: they were used to keep away insects and, according to a local explanation, angry ghosts. The tiles with the semi three dimensional pattern of fir cones are of Spanish origin. Busts of former Portuguese kings stand in small niches, hence the name "Kings' Gallery". Blue white tiles on the pool itself depict different knights. A fountain in the middle of the garden bears an armillary sphere as a symbol of Portugal's "Golden Age" and the coat of arms of the Mascarenha family.
On the facade of the palace facing the garden there are a variety of tiled pictures depicting hunting and expedition scenes, allegories of ancient gods and seasons as well as depictions of everyday life. The poet Luis de Camoes can be recognized in one picture.
In one corner of the estate is a former pool with many gargoyles, behind this an artificial grotto, whose walls incorporate pieces of broken pottery. It is thought that a royal feast took place at the official opening of the palace; to ensure that the crockery was only used once for this purpose it was broken at the end of the meal and the pieces set into the wall of the grotto. The so called Italian Garden is particularly worth visiting. This approximately 4,000sq.m/43,056sq.ft garden area was laid out in the Italian style in the 17th C. At that time some natural springs were used in the construction of several fountains and a particularly fine large pond. This pond is flanked by two wide flights of steps giving access to a gallery extending the whole length of the pond. Especially impressive is the blue of the 17th C. tiles: they were used to keep away insects and, according to a local explanation, angry ghosts. The tiles with the semi three dimensional pattern of fir cones are of Spanish origin. Busts of former Portuguese kings stand in small niches, hence the name "Kings' Gallery". Blue white tiles on the pool itself depict different knights. A fountain in the middle of the garden bears an armillary sphere as a symbol of Portugal's "Golden Age" and the coat of arms of the Mascarenha family.
On the facade of the palace facing the garden there are a variety of tiled pictures depicting hunting and expedition scenes, allegories of ancient gods and seasons as well as depictions of everyday life. The poet Luis de Camoes can be recognized in one picture.
Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira
Largo de São Domingos de Benfica, 1
1500-554 Lisboa
Lisbon
Portugal
Largo de São Domingos de Benfica, 1
1500-554 Lisboa
Lisbon
Portugal
Hours
June 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | 10:30 | Closed |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
October 1 to May 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | Closed |
| Close | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 | 13:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Anniversity of the Revolution - Portugal (April 25)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
National Day - Portugal (June 10)
Assumption Day - Christian (August 15)
Republic Day - Portugal (October 5)
All Saints' Day - Christian (November 1)
Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Independence Day - Portugal (December 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Good Friday - Christian (Apr 06)
Corpus Christi - Christian (Jun 10)
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
