Vila Viçosa Duchal Palace, Alentejo, Portugal

Do not miss visiting the Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa, former royal residence, and its extraordinary museums.

Vila Viçosa Duchal Palace
© Câmara Municipal de Vila Viçosa

The Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa Duchal Palace is a monumental building which construction began in 1501 by the command of D. Jaime, Duke of Bragança, to be used for family residence.

The palace underwent various expansions during the 16th and 17th centuries, giving the building its current dimension and characteristics: a 110 metres length facade and a unique Portuguese civil architecture which has a classical inspiration.

The Bragança family, original of the city with the same name located in Trás-os-Montes, settled down in Vila Viçosa in the 15th century. In the year 1640, when the eighth duke was crowned, the building became one more royal palace rather than the permanent residence. However, the family kept a special affection for the building that João IV and its successors kept visiting it.

The best furniture of the palace ended up in Lisbon after the raise of João IV to the throne, while others were sent to Brazil when the royal family fled the country in 1807. Despite this, there are currently some spectaculars pieces in exhibition, such as the enormous Persian carpet of the 16th c. from the Duke’s lobby, as well as numerous royal portraits which give context to the interesting history of the royal family.

The private rooms keep a ghostly fascination: toiletries and Carlos and Marie-Amélia clothes arranged as if the royal couple had never abandoned the palace.

In some other interesting parts of the palace, including the 16th c. cloister, there are also museums exhibiting specific collections for which you will need to pay another ticket, such as the armory, the carriage collection, the Chinese china or the treasury room.

The Terreiro do Paço is the square of the palace, which covers around 16.000 m2 and it is surrounded by the own palace, the Agustinos Convent and the Chagas Convent. In the centre of the square, it is exhibited a statue of João IV.

More information:

Location:

Terreiro do Paço, Vila Viçosa, el Alentejo, Portugal.

Ticket price:

Palace entry:6€. (Children younger than 10 have free entry)

Additional admissions:

Armory 3€.
Carriage collections: 2€.
Chinese chine collection: 2,5€.
Treasury room: 2,5€.

Opening Hours:

Tuesday from 14h30 to 17h30.
From Wednesday to Sunday from 10h00 to 13h00 and from 14h30 to 17h30. (From October to March the timetable is from 10h00 to 13h00 and from 14h00 to 17h00 )

Telephone:

(+351) 268 980 659.

Mapa Interactivo:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal