Jardins, esculturas e duas salas com pintura decorativa, no antigo Paço Real de Caxias

The gardens, sculptures and two decorated rooms of the former Paço Real de Caxias form a protected heritage site in Oeiras, in the Lisbon area of Portugal. The protection does not cover the whole palace but specific elements: the gardens, a group of sculptures and two interiors whose ceilings and walls are covered in painted decoration. The ensemble holds the status of a property of public interest.

What is the Paço Real de Caxias?

The former royal palace at Caxias was built in the middle of the 17th century on the initiative of Infante Francisco de Bragança. Over time the residence was extended, and a later ruler made it a holiday home for the royal family. Its position near the coast and close to the capital suited that role: the court could rest outside the city while staying within easy reach of Lisbon.

What to see in the gardens

The estate originally included farmland and geometric gardens with a French character. Their layout was inspired by the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, with regular compositions, symmetrical paths and planted beds. In the second half of the 18th century a cascade was added, and it became one of the best-known features of the whole property.

Water from the cascade falls into a lake. Beside it stands a sculptural group depicting a scene from mythology: the goddess Diana coming to bathe near the grotto where her beloved shepherd Endymion sleeps an eternal sleep. The commission for the sculptures went to Joaquim Machado de Castro (1731-1822), one of Portugal's most important sculptors of the period, and dates to 1782. This group is the feature most often singled out as the gardens' highlight.

Other sculptures are placed around the gardens, underlining the formal, representative character of the design. Walking among them shows how a Portuguese residence combined French garden fashion with local traditions.

Two rooms with painted decoration

The second reason for the protection is a pair of rooms whose ceilings and walls are completely covered with paintings. Painted ceilings and blue-and-white azulejos, the traditional Portuguese ceramic tiles, stand out. Together, painting and tilework create richly coloured interiors typical of Portuguese residences.

Planning a visit

• The site lies in Caxias, in the municipality of Oeiras, along the coast west of central Lisbon.
• Check current access rules before you go, as opening of the gardens and interiors depends on how the property is currently managed.
• A walk along the seafront of Oeiras makes a natural complement to the visit.

Frequently asked questions

Who built the palace at Caxias? It was built in the mid-17th century on the initiative of Infante Francisco de Bragança.

Who made the sculptures by the cascade? The 1782 commission went to Machado de Castro.

What does the sculptural group show? A mythological scene with Diana bathing near the grotto where Endymion sleeps.

What is special about the interiors? Two rooms with ceilings and walls fully covered in paintings, plus blue-and-white azulejos.

What inspired the gardens? A geometric French layout modelled on the gardens of Versailles.