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GPS 38.851618156144994, -9.140479602878095

The Palácio da Mitra, commonly known as the Palace of the Archbishops, is a former summer residence, first of the Archbishops, and then of the Patriarchs of Lisbon, located in the parish of Santo Antão do Tojal, in the municipality of Loures.

It was a rural farm called Santo António do Tojal, which belonged to Pedro Viegas and was acquired by the Bishop of Lisbon Domingos Anes Jardo.

The original known palace was built by Archbishop D. Fernando de Vasconcelos, around 1554 (this archbishop was also responsible for building the Mother Church of Santo Antão do Tojal). This palace, in turn, replaced a primitive house from the 13th century that belonged to Mitra of Lisbon. In the 18th century, the first patriarch of Lisbon, D. Tomás de Almeida, had it rebuilt in Baroque style, in line with the taste of the time. The architect responsible for the current design was the Italian Canevari, who worked on it until 1732.

The Palácio da Mitra, now including the aqueduct, dovecotes, fountains, church, monumental entrance gate and the entire walled area of ​​the former farm, has been classified as a Monument of Public Interest since 1940.

Description

The building is U-shaped; on the facade, in Italian style, there are three marbles from Carrara, representing the statues of São Bruno de Cologne (the founder of the Charterhouse), Queen Santa Isabel and the Immaculate Conception. Inside, the typical Portuguese tiles from the 18th century, in blue and white, are characterized by their thematic richness and great pictorial quality (representations of the seasons, countryside, hunting or fishing scenes, mythological figures; in the kitchens, culinary themes are represented ). Some of the tiles were later transferred to the Patriarchal Palace of São Vicente de Fora and are now in the National Museum of Ancient Art.

The Palace also includes two dovecotes, a two kilometer aqueduct intended to supply two fountains, one of which is monumental, all constructions also from the 18th century.

History

It was the scene of a meeting of deputies of the Assembly of the Republic, prevented from entering the Palace of São Bento by forces of the Head of Government at the time, Pimenta de Castro. They meet on March 4, 1915, with 68 deputies and 22 senators present.

Throughout the 20th century, it has undergone several restoration works funded by the Directorate-General for National Buildings and Monuments; Currently, the facilities of Casa do Gaiato are based in Palácio da Mitra.

The set comprising the palace, aqueduct, dovecotes, fountains, chapel and even the monumental entrance gate is protected as a Property of Public Interest, by decrees nº 30 762 of September 26, 1940 and 32 973 of August 18 from 1943.

By Ordinance n.º 740-AH/2012 published in the Diário da República on December 24, 2012, the classification was changed to Monument of Public Interest (MIP), extended to Special Protection Zone (ZEP) and the designation of the monument to protect “Mitra Palace, aqueduct, dovecotes, fountains, church, monumental entrance gate and the entire walled area of ​​the old farm”.