Palácio do Cunhal das Bolas

Palácio do Cunhal das Bolas is a Renaissance palace in Lisbon's Bairro Alto district, on Rua da Rosa. It is known for the stone spheres on its corners, which gave the building its name: cunhal das bolas roughly means "corner with balls".

What makes this building stand out?

Two incomplete corners survive from the original structure, decorated with relief carved as stone half-spheres. They were meant to evoke golden apples, a motif popular in the architecture of the period. Local tradition says the spheres were once covered in real gold paint, though time has erased every trace of it. These corners are the easiest landmark to look for when hunting for the palace on the street.

Who built it and who lived here?

The palace was built in the 16th century by a wealthy Jewish man. In the 17th century it belonged to the Melo e Castro family. In 1696 the Count of Ericeira rented it and turned it into a venue for cultural and literary gatherings. The building is also tied to the Academia dos Generosos, founded in 1647. Around 1717, under the Count of Ericeira's patronage, it was very active, and it first met at Cunhal das Bolas.

From school to hospital

In the early 19th century the building housed the Geral do Cunhal das Bolas, a secondary school. The poet António Feliciano de Castilho studied there between 1810 and 1815. In the late 19th century the palace became the Hospital de São Luís. Sources indicate it has kept a hospital role to this day, and in February 2025 the newspaper Público reported plans to convert the former hospital into a luxury hotel.

Can you go inside?

This is not a typical attraction with tickets and opening hours. Because of its hospital use, visiting the interior is not standard. Treat it as a stop on a walk through Bairro Alto and Misericórdia: seeing the facade and the distinctive corners from the street is enough.

How to get there

The palace stands on Rua da Rosa in Bairro Alto. The area is hilly, with narrow cobbled streets, so comfortable shoes help. It is an easy walk from Chiado and Príncipe Real, and you can combine it with nearby viewpoints and Bairro Alto's bars and restaurants.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the palace's name come from? From the stone spheres on the building's corners, resembling golden apples.

What period is it from? It was built in the 16th century, in the Renaissance.

Who built it? Historical sources say a wealthy Jewish man; no name is given here without certainty.

What was it used for later? A literary meeting place under the Count of Ericeira, a secondary school, and from the late 19th century the São Luís hospital.

Were the spheres really gold? Tradition says they were covered in gold paint, but no trace of it remains.