Palácio das Pedrosas

Palácio das Pedrosas is an eighteenth-century palace on Rua de São José in Lisbon. Its story shows how a single building in the Portuguese capital could change hands and purpose over more than a century and a half, from a merchant's home and bakery to a noble residence and later a school.

When and why was Palácio das Pedrosas built?

The building dates to 1764. It did not begin as an aristocratic seat: it was raised by the Italian merchant Tomás Mongiardino, who used it as his home and bakery. The land was held on a long lease (aforamento) from Joaquim Miguel Lopes de Lavre, and the house stood to the north of Lavre's own palace.

Who owned it over time?

In 1785 Joaquim Lavre bought the whole property outright. Around 1800 his heirs put it up for sale together with the neighbouring Palácio Lavre (also written "Lavra"). The buyer was Commander Manuel José da Silva Franco, who carried out works that gave the building a neoclassical appearance.

In 1831 the palace was sold at public auction to José António Silva Pedrosa, a judge (desembargador). He commissioned further building work, and the palace has carried his name ever since.

A school and a major remodelling

After a foreclosure in 1860, the property passed to José de Oliveira de Sousa Leal, the morgado of Alfeizerão. He rented it out to house the Escola Nacional, which operated there from 1869. For a time, then, the palace served an educational role rather than a purely residential one.

In 1885-86 the then owner, Alfredo de Oliveira Sousa Leal, carried out works that profoundly altered the building. Its present look is therefore the result of several overlapping periods rather than a single design.

Architectural style

The palace is regarded as reflecting a transition between the Pombaline style, typical of Lisbon's rebuilding after the 1755 earthquake, and nineteenth-century architecture. The neoclassical changes made around 1800 and the later alterations mean it is hard to pin to one era.

Where to find it and what to know

The palace stands on Rua de São José in central Lisbon, in the Santo António area. It fits well into a walk through the surrounding streets, where other former residences, including the neighbouring Palácio Lavre mentioned above, are found. Check current access arrangements before visiting, as entry to the interiors may be limited.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the name Palácio das Pedrosas come from? From José António Silva Pedrosa, who bought the building at auction in 1831 and had it reworked.

Who built the palace? The Italian merchant Tomás Mongiardino, in 1764, as a home and bakery.

What style is the building? A blend of Pombaline elements, neoclassical changes and nineteenth-century alterations.

Did a school operate in the palace? Yes, the Escola Nacional was housed there from 1869, rented from the owner.

When was it last remodelled in the nineteenth century? In 1885-86, under Alfredo de Oliveira Sousa Leal.