Quinta dos Ribafrias, Renaissance palace in Sintra, Portugal
Quinta dos Ribafrias is a manor house estate in Sintra composed mainly of a main building featuring a tower approximately 30 meters (98 feet) tall decorated with ornate cornices. The structure includes painted wooden ceilings and is surrounded by gardens that frame the property.
King Manuel I granted the land to Gaspar Gonçalves in 1515, who built the estate between 1536 and 1541 and initially named it Herdade das Laranjeiras. The complex later developed into a significant residence with its distinctive architectural features.
The estate displays features of Portuguese architecture with Manueline details and Mudéjar battlements visible in the decorative stonework and structures. The painted wooden ceilings inside showcase hunting and maritime scenes that reflect the lifestyle of its inhabitants.
The gardens are open daily to visitors and invite a walk through the grounds. The manor house itself requires special permission through the Cultursintra Foundation to enter the interior.
The tower from the 17th century displays merlon battlements and symmetrical facades influenced by the design of the Mosque of Cordoba. This Moorish design element is unusual in the architecture and shows the diverse cultural influences that shaped Portuguese building traditions.
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