Palacete Conde Dias Garcia

Palacete Conde Dias Garcia is one of the most recognisable buildings in São João da Madeira, a city in northern Portugal known for its footwear industry. Its red walls, twin towers and colourful roofs make it hard to miss in the city centre. Today it houses the four-star Meliá São João da Madeira hotel, and its story reflects the era when Portuguese emigrants returned from Brazil with fortunes to spend.

Who was Conde Dias Garcia?

António Dias Garcia (1859–1940) was born in São João da Madeira and made his fortune in Brazil. He funded and sponsored many charitable works, both there and in his home town. In recognition, he received several honorary titles, the most notable being the title of Count in 1928, granted through Cardinal Arcoverde of Rio de Janeiro. That is where the name "Palacete dos Condes", or Counts' Mansion, comes from.

What does the building look like?

The mansion was built around the turn of the 20th century and is an example of the "architecture of the Brazilians", a style meant to express the owner's status and wealth. It blends several architectural and decorative influences. The facades are wide, with many doors and windows and generous ceiling heights. The roof is topped by two towers with coloured tiles.

How has its use changed?

After Dias Garcia died in the 1940s, the building was no longer just a family home. It served in turn as a language institute, a training centre for the footwear industry, a secondary school and a courthouse. A fire in 1990 partly destroyed it. In 2009, stabilisation works were carried out and the facades were restored. The building was later included in the Revive programme, which seeks investors for historic public buildings in Portugal.

What is here now?

The mansion was extensively rebuilt to a design by architect Hugo Correia and the firm CEVEL, and the Meliá São João da Madeira hotel opened on 15 August. It has 93 rooms, two pools (one indoor, one outdoor), a wellness area, meeting rooms, the Conde restaurant and the Chapelaria bar. It is not a museum, but the historic building with its towers remains the main draw.

Is it worth a visit?

Yes, if you like architecture or the history of Portuguese-Brazilian emigration. The building is easy to admire from the outside, even without a booking. Combine it with a walk through the city centre, where Largo Conde Dias Garcia, a square named after the same benefactor, is nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Is Palacete Conde Dias Garcia a museum? No. The building has been converted into a four-star Meliá hotel.

Who built the mansion? António Dias Garcia, a native of São João da Madeira who grew rich in Brazil, commissioned it.

When was it built? Around the turn of the 20th century.

What happened to it in the 20th century? It served as a language institute, a footwear-industry training centre, a secondary school and a courthouse. It partly burned in 1990.

Where is it? In the centre of São João da Madeira, in the Aveiro region of northern Portugal.

Can I see it from outside? Yes, the red facades and towers with coloured roofs are clearly visible in the city centre.