18th Century Manor House

It was built by the father of the second Duchess of Palmella, (1827-1861), the first Count of Póvoa (1744-1833), the present owner’s ancestor.

The design was inspired by the “Petit Trianon” in Versailles. The frescoes in both the dining rooms, one with “chinoiseries”, the other with imaginary landscapes, were painted by Jean Baptiste Pillement (1728-1808). He was Queen Marie Antoinette’s (1755-1793) favourite painter and an artist that visited Portugal on a number of occasions, producing much of his oeuvre in this country. His work in this house has remained in excellent condition, and the frescoes have never needed restoration. The remaining wall decorations are by his studio.

The family chapel was commissioned in the late XIX th Century by the third Duchess (1841-1909). She was a disciple of Celestin Anantole Calmels (1822-1906) and became a fine sculptress. The alabaster bust of Saint Teresa of Avila is by her. The very interesting tiles, covering its walls, are by Jorge Colaço (1862-1942), and represent the life of Saint Sebastian, after whom the Quinta was renamed in 1899.

The Quinta hosted numerous members of European Royal families, including Queen Maria II, (1819 – 1853) King Fernando II (1816 - 1885), and their children, Queen Amelia of Portugal, (1865 – 1951), (whose private secretary was the present owner’s father, the 10th Viscount d’Asseca, (1900 – 1968)), King Manuel II, (1889 – 1932), his wife, Augusta Victoria Hohenzollern (1890 – 1996), TRH The Dukes of Windsor, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (1930 – 2002), HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Princess Irene of Holland, HM Queen Giovanna of Bulgaria, HM King Umberto of Italy, HM King Juan Carlos of Spain, TRH The Counts of Barcelona, TRH The Counts of Paris, HRH Infanta Pliar , HRH Infanta Margarita, HRH The Duke of Bragança, Prince João Orleans e Bragança, etc.