Raio Palace, 18th century baroque palace and museum in Braga, Portugal.
Palácio do Raio is an 18th-century baroque palace in Braga featuring a striking facade of blue and white tiles, ornate sandstone carvings, and wrought iron railings. The three-story building was designed as a private residence and now functions as a museum with ten exhibition rooms.
Construction started in 1750 under architect André Soares for João Duarte de Faria, a wealthy merchant and knight in the Military Order of Christ. The palace was built during the height of the baroque period and remains an example of that artistic movement in northern Portugal.
Built by a wealthy merchant family, the palace reflects how Portuguese nobility lived during the 1700s. The rooms display personal belongings and furnishings that show what daily life looked like for people of high social standing.
The building sits in central Braga on Rua do Raio and is easy to reach on foot. Visitors with mobility concerns will find accessible features, and guided tours are available.
The collection displays historical medical instruments from Portuguese healthcare history in illuminated cases within the stairwell. A statue called 'O Mexicano' stands at the center of the grand staircase and draws visitor curiosity with its mysterious background.
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