Palacete Nunes Correia

Palacete Nunes Correia is a 19th-century urban mansion at Avenida da Liberdade 24 in Lisbon, in the Santo António district. Built between 1865 and 1868, it belongs to the group of buildings that gave the city's grand boulevard its stately character.

Who built Palacete Nunes Correia?

The commission came from Manuel Nunes Correia (1801–1871), a tailor who ran a shop on Rua de São Julião. The design was drawn up by Giuseppe Cinatti (1808–1879), an Italian architect working in Portugal in the mid-1800s. The owner's background shows that a lavish residence on the capital's most fashionable avenue was within reach of successful tradesmen, not only the aristocracy.

What does the building look like?

The mansion follows a U-shaped plan. Its side wings are elongated and asymmetrical, and they wrap around a central courtyard originally meant as a garden. The facades are rendered and painted, and the building rises through five floors, one of them a mansard. Pilasters mark the corners, a balustrade crowns the roofline, and friezes and cornices separate the second and fourth floors.

The main facade on Avenida da Liberdade stands out for its clearly defined central section. It has a large balcony on the noble floor, flanked by tall pilasters in a Palladian arrangement. Female heads decorate the capitals, one of the building's most distinctive details.

What happened to it later?

Around 1879 the mansion was sold to the Count of Almedina, Delfim Guedes (1842–1895). In the same year the artist Eugénio Cotrim (1849–1937) decorated the staircase in the Etruscan style, a fashionable way for owners to show their taste in the later 19th century.

In 1938 the property passed to the Lisbon water company, the Companhia das Águas de Lisboa. Architect Porfírio Pardal Monteiro (1897–1957) then designed an additional floor and a mansard, rebuilt following the original model. As a result the building kept a consistent appearance despite the alteration. It is also known as Palacete Dona Maria Pia de Bragança, and heritage records list it as the building at Avenida da Liberdade 24.

Is it worth seeing?

For anyone interested in 19th-century architecture, it makes a rewarding stop on a walk along the avenue. The facade with its balcony and pilasters, and the rhythm of cornices and balustrade, leave the strongest impression. It is a working building rather than a museum, so most visitors admire it from the pavement.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Palacete Nunes Correia? At Avenida da Liberdade 24, in Lisbon's Santo António district, close to the parish church of São José.

When was it built? Between 1865 and 1868.

Who designed it? Giuseppe Cinatti, for Manuel Nunes Correia.

Can I go inside? It is an occupied building, so it is best seen from outside during a stroll along Avenida da Liberdade.

What style is it? 19th-century architecture with Palladian elements on the facade and an Etruscan-style staircase interior.