Casa dos Maias, Historic townhouse in Morro da Vitoria, Portugal.
Casa dos Maias is a townhouse in Porto featuring eight iron-grated windows across its main facade facing Rua das Flores. The building spans two levels with a U-shaped layout, containing multiple rooms arranged around a central courtyard accessible by a wide granite staircase.
The building dates from the 16th century and rose to prominence when acquired by Domingos Oliveira Maia's family during Porto's merchant boom. A century later, architect Nicolau Nasoni designed an octagonal chapel in the courtyard, adding religious purpose to the residence.
The building shows how Porto's noble families mixed business with living, with shops and workshops on the ground level and residences upstairs. This arrangement reveals how merchants organized their daily lives, blending work and family activities within one structure.
The house is best viewed from Rua das Flores, where the main facade with its distinctive windows is most visible. The courtyard serves as the central point of orientation when moving through the different areas of the property.
The octagonal chapel hidden in the backyard was designed by one of Porto's most celebrated architects and often surprises visitors who only see the street facade. This concealed religious space reveals how important faith was to the family and adds another layer of meaning to the house.
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