Mateus Palace

Mateus Palace is a Baroque manor house in the parish of Mateus, about 3 kilometres from the centre of Vila Real, built in the first half of the 18th century for António José Botelho Mourão, the third Morgado of Mateus. Its design is attributed to the Italian architect Nicolau Nasoni, although the attribution is not certain.

The Fundação da Casa de Mateus, created on 3 December 1970, owns the house, its gardens and its collections.

What to see at Mateus Palace

Main house: a U-shaped Baroque house in granite, with pinnacles on the roofline, balconies and curved cornices, set behind a lake that reflects the façade.
Chapel: the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Prazeres, by master José Álvares do Rego, built beside the house in the mid-18th century and larger than most private chapels.
Library: about 6,000 volumes, including an illustrated edition of Camões' Os Lusíadas published in the early 19th century by a Morgado of Mateus.
Interiors: carved chestnut ceilings, furniture of several periods, paintings, silver and ceramics.
Gardens: gardens south of the house, planted in the 1930s for the Countess of Mangualde to a design by Gomes de Amorim.

History of Mateus Palace

1577: members of the family already live on the site.
First half of the 18th century: the third Morgado of Mateus builds the present house, replacing an older family house.
Mid-18th century: the new chapel is completed by his son, Luís António de Sousa Botelho Mourão.
1823: José Luís de Sousa Botelho Mourão e Vasconcelos receives the title of Count of Vila Real.
April 1961: the house opens to the public for the first time.
3 December 1970: Francisco de Sousa Botelho de Albuquerque creates the Fundação da Casa de Mateus and gives it the house, gardens and collections.

Visiting Mateus Palace

Location: the palace is in the parish of Mateus, east of the city of Vila Real.
Cultural programme: the foundation holds music, literature and art events at the house.
Opening times: the Fundação da Casa de Mateus publishes current opening times and prices.