Casa de Miguel de Vasconcelos

Casa de Miguel de Vasconcelos in Viana do Castelo, also known as Casa dos Medalhões or Casa dos Lunas, is one of the most interesting examples of Renaissance residential architecture in northern Portugal. It stands in the historic centre, on Largo do Instituto Histórico do Minho, facing the parish church (Igreja Matriz), the town's former cathedral.

What kind of building is it?

It is a former noble townhouse with a rectangular plan and a narrow frontage. The street facade has three storeys. Heritage descriptions suggest the house originally had only two, and that the third was added in the 17th century. The evidence is in the differing cornices on the main facade and the Mannerist framing of the windows on the top floor.

The showpiece is the noble floor (andar nobre), where the decoration is clearly richer than on the other levels. It gave the house one of its names, Casa dos Medalhões, "House of the Medallions". Thanks to its facade decoration, the building is regarded as an important example of Renaissance domestic architecture in the region.

Who was Miguel de Vasconcelos?

Tradition holds that the house was home to Miguel de Vasconcelos, a Portuguese politician who backed the Philippine dynasty, the Spanish Habsburgs who ruled Portugal at the time. He was widely hated. He was shot by conspirators during the 1640 uprising in Lisbon, which ended the union with Spain. He was found hiding in a cupboard in the royal palace. The episode is among the best-known moments in Portuguese history.

Heritage status

The house is classified as a National Monument by decree no. 11,454, published in the Diário do Governo on 19 February 1926.

Is it worth a look?

For visitors to Viana do Castelo, the house is a natural stop on a walk through the old town. It sits right beside the parish church, so both can be seen in one visit. Look at the proportions of the narrow facade, the cornice differences between floors and the ornate windows of the noble floor.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Casa de Miguel de Vasconcelos? In central Viana do Castelo, on Largo do Instituto Histórico do Minho, opposite the Igreja Matriz.

What other names does the house go by? Casa dos Medalhões and Casa dos Lunas.

What style is the building? A Renaissance town house with later Mannerist features from the 17th century on the top floor.

Is it protected? Yes, it has been a National Monument since 1926.

Why is it linked to Miguel de Vasconcelos? Tradition says the politician lived here. He was killed in 1640 during the Lisbon uprising against Habsburg rule.