Vila Viçosa - Paço Ducal

The main attraction, on the way into the town from Borba, is the Paço Ducal, the palace of the Dukes of Bragança. Built in the 16th and 17th centuries on the remains of Moorish, possibly even Roman buildings, for centuries it hosted a brilliant court and was a hub of intellectual life. In 1640 Joao IV was the first of the Dukes of Bragança to ascend the Portuguese throne. Although Lisbon then became the seat of the monarchy Joao IV and his successors continued making frequent visits to Vila Viçosa.

There are guided tours round the palace, which is full of objets d'art from the 16th to the 19th C., although the most valuable were taken to the new quarters in Lisbon in the mid 17th C. What remains is quite grand enough painted ceilings and family portraits, 17th C. azulejos, tapestries, porcelain, a well stocked armory and a collection of coaches. The chapel, which has a 16th C. triptych, is particularly worth seeing. The inner courtyard appears to have been modeled on a cloister.