Beau-Séjour Palace, Art Nouveau manor house in São Domingos de Benfica, Portugal.
Beau-Séjour Palace is a grand Art Nouveau manor house in São Domingos de Benfica featuring ornate azulejo tiles covering its facades and distinctive semi-circular bay windows. The setting includes formally designed gardens in the French style, complete with reflecting pools and small metal bridges.
The manor house began its construction in 1849 when D. Ermelinda Allen de Almeida purchased a rural estate and converted it into an aristocratic residence. This transformation established its character as one of Lisbon's notable properties from that period onward.
The interior spaces display ceiling paintings and decorative stuccos created by Portuguese artists, giving the rooms their distinctive character. The Golden Hall showcases a large tapestry by a renowned local master.
The building now serves as a research center dedicated to Lisbon studies, with a library and archive located below ground level. Visitors should check access hours in advance, as some areas may have limited opening times.
The grounds feature a miniature Romantic garden layout with reflecting pools and small islands connected by metal bridges that create a distinct ecosystem within the property. This intricate water and bridge system was designed to blend natural and architectural elements in an unusual way for Lisbon.
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