Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa

About the museum

The Paço Ducal de Vila Viçosa was commissioned by the 4th Duke of Bragança, D. Jaime, who began the works in 1501 at Reguengo, after the duchy had been re-established. Until then the ducal household had lived in the former palace of the castle, where the 2nd Duke, D. Fernando, had been installed. The façade, clad in marble in the Italian style, was commissioned in 1537 by D. Teodósio I, with a design attributed to Nicolau de Frias; the finishing touches were added by Pero Vaz Pereira at the beginning of the 17th century.

In 1640 the 8th Duke was acclaimed king as D. João IV, and much of the furnishings were moved to the Paço da Ribeira in Lisbon. The palace then served mainly as a hunting and leisure residence. After the establishment of the Republic in 1910, the palace and the possessions of the House of Bragança remained in the hands of D. Manuel II.

By the testamentary provision of the last king, who died in 1932, the palace passed in 1933 to the Fundação da Casa de Bragança and opened to the public as a museum, together with furniture, works of art and the king's library, brought from London. It has been classified as a National Monument since 1970.

The route shows rooms such as the Medusa Room, the Dukes' Room and the Hercules Room, the apartments of D. Carlos, which have been kept as they were before the regicide of 1908, one of the largest collections of copper kitchen utensils and the library. There are also the Armaria (Armoury), the Tesouro (Treasury), the collection of carriages, Chinese porcelain and the collections of archaeology and hunting, the latter in the castle.

Highlights

• Noble rooms of the palace, such as the Medusa, Dukes' and Hercules rooms
• Apartments of D. Carlos, kept as they were before 1908
• One of the largest collections of copper kitchen utensils
• Armoury, Treasury and Chinese porcelain collection
• Collection of carriages, including the landau from the day of the regicide
• Archaeology and hunting collections, in the castle

Permanent exhibition

• Paço Ducal – salas nobres e coleções – Guided visit to the noble rooms and apartments of the palace, with furniture, paintings, copper kitchen utensils and the library.

Founded

1933

Operated by

Fundação da Casa de Bragança

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Residents of Vila Viçosa: free admission on Tuesdays.

Paço Ducal ticket: €9 (visit of about 1 hour). Discounts require a valid identity document, cannot be combined and do not apply to combined tickets; combined tickets cannot be combined with other discounts. Discounts: 25% for former combatants and visitors over 65; 20% for Montepio members. Free for children up to age 12, tourism and communication professionals on duty, members of ICOM, APOM and APBAD, school groups of compulsory education, and other cases provided for by the Foundation.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Guide dogs are allowed, provided they are kept on a lead.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

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Amenities & dining

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Events & venue rental

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