Palace of the Counts of Azambuja, Art Nouveau palace in Misericórdia district, Lisbon, Portugal
The Palace of the Counts of Azambuja is a three-storey U-shaped building on Largo do Calhariz, its facade divided by pilasters and topped by a triangular pediment with an oculus carved with plant motifs. Shops occupy the ground floor, plain rectangular windows the second, and rounded-lintel windows with a balustraded veranda the top floor. The interior keeps 18th-century azulejo panels and a marble staircase under a vaulted ceiling.
The palace was destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake but was rebuilt afterward and served as a residence for the Marquess of Valada and Count of Caparica. Its reconstruction marked an important phase in the city's recovery.
The interior features 18th-century tilework depicting gallant scenes, with decorative panels forming pilasters topped with ornamental vases.
The building underwent renovation in 2004 and was converted into ten residential apartments while preserving its historical exterior. This transformation maintains the facade's original character for visitors to appreciate from the street.
The palace's name recalls the Countess of Azambuja, who inherited it through Counselor Francisco José da Silva Torres after he bought it in January 1867. Earlier, in 1449, the estate passed from Álvaro Vaz de Almada, killed at the Battle of Alfarrobeira, to his brother-in-law Álvaro Pires de Távora, who built a palace on the site.
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