Residence for sale, Ajuda VBE52745

The Palace of the Marqueses is an architectural jewel located in the center of the walls of Elvas, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built in the eighteenth century next to the historic West Gates, this property is a symbol of status, designed to house the high aristocracy with the utmost rigor, privacy and distinction.

This property is a unique haven of exclusivity in the heart of Elvas. An authentic well-kept treasure that merges the grandeur of intramural civil architecture with the unique sumptuousness of the Portuguese Baroque.

With origins dating back to the century. XVI, the building is developed in three blocks, 75 divisions, with remodeling dating from the century. XVIII and that come to establish its uniformity and grandeur. The palace was built between 1750 and 1752, by D. João de Aguilar Mexia, taking advantage of part of the pre-existing palace, which belonged to Francisco de Magalhães da Gama Lobo.

All the marble decoration is by the sculptor José Francisco de Abreu, hired by the owner for this purpose in 1751.

Erected in the noblest square of the city, gracefully shading the old Cathedral of Elvas, today the Mother Church, the Palace of the Marquises is a well-kept secret within the iconic bastioned walls. In a densely built and UNESCO-listed historic centre, owning a palatial property with a total area of 3,402m2 is a rare privilege that is a true island of tranquillity at the heart of Portugal's history.

With 3,402m² of covered area, the interior dazzles with the originality of its design. The imposing architectural elements of the palace serve as an excellent framework for its vast rooms, decorated with unique tile panels of extreme rarity.

The interior layout of the Palace has an unusual architectural feature for its size: the absence of corridors. Circulation is made through wide passages (in a row) that connect the rooms directly to each other, creating a fluid layout. Further enhancing the secular structure of the property, the house has a cistern of imposing dimensions, a remarkable historical testimony of the architecture and engineering of the time. The exterior is complemented by three private gardens, offering outdoor leisure spaces within the urban perimeter.

This building was built to be an exclusive refuge for the high nobility, the former Lords of the Frontier, which guarantees you, even today, a sense of absolute peace, protection and privacy in the heart of this historic city.

The greatest exponent of Portuguese art covers almost all the walls of the palace. Corridors, halls and staircase are full of unique tile panels from the XVIII century. transforming the house into an authentic living museum of national tiles, being one of the most fascinating buildings and an example of noble civil architecture in Alto Alentejo.

Elvas was the most important stronghold on the Portuguese border, the most fortified city in Europe, and was therefore nicknamed "Queen of the Border".

The city is home to the largest set of bastioned fortifications in the world, the walls of Elvas, which together with the historic center of the city are a World Heritage Site, a title awarded by UNESCO on June 30, 2012.

As it is a listed building, the property has a restoration project already approved. This factor constitutes a substantial competitive and bureaucratic advantage, allowing the immediate progress of the works without the usual delays. The project aims to preserve all the structural and decorative heritage of the eighteenth century (from the XVIII century). XVIII), while introducing modern living infrastructures. Due to its dimensions and characteristics, the palace presents feasibility both for a private residence and for conversion into a distinguished hotel.