Palacete Dos Viscondes De Balsemão
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Why go
- Exiled King Carlos Alberto of Sardinia stayed here from 19 to 27 April 1849 after his defeat at Novara.
- Four portraits by Francisco José Resende, painted in 1885–1886, were reunited, restored and exhibited here again in 2004.
Don't miss
- Central granite doorway and framed windowsLook for these features on the two-storey, west-facing main facade.West-facing main facade
- AtriumStone floors, azulejo tiles, stucco and white-painted walls.Interior atrium
- Split staircaseThe staircase divides into two parallel flights at an intermediate landing.From the atrium
Interesting facts2
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The building combines a principal block, a lateral annex and a triangular tower.
Palacete of the Viscounts of Balsemão - Wikipedia -
The facades pair white plaster with granite elements, pilastered corners, cornices and friezes.
Palacete of the Viscounts of Balsemão - Wikipedia
History
In the 1840s, António Bernardino Peixe moved his inn here from Rua do Bonjardim.
- 18th centuryNobleman José Alvo Brandão built the residence beside Largo dos Ferradores.
- 1800The marriage of D. Maria Rosa Alvo and Luís Máximo Alfredo Pinto de Sousa Coutinho brought the house into the Balsemão family.
- 1852Praça Carlos Alberto began taking its name from the former monarch.
- 1854José António de Sousa Basto acquired the building and extensively renovated it.
- 1907The Gas Company of Lisbon began operating from the building.
Show all
- 1920The gas operation had become Porto’s municipal gas and electricity service.
- 1959Porto’s municipal council bought the building from the Viscount of Trindade’s descendants.
- 1996Municipal cultural services moved in, including archaeology and numismatics offices.
- 2022Hotéis do Bom Jesus acquired the palace for conversion into its seventh hotel.
Tips for your visit
- An eastern gate leads to a patio that once provided access to the gardens.
Sources: Palacete of the Viscounts of Balsemão - Wikiped… · Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão - Wikipedia · checked 4 Oct 2026
Questions and answers
What happened to Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão in 2022?
Hotéis do Bom Jesus acquired it for conversion into its seventh hotel.
What landmarks are near Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão?
The Third Order Carmelites’ Church, Fountain of Leões, Clerics Tower, and former courthouse and jail are nearby.
What was Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão used for?
António Bernardino Peixe moved his inn here from Rua do Bonjardim in the 1840s. Municipal cultural services, including archaeology and numismatics offices, have operated in the building since 1996.
When did Porto’s municipal council buy Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão?
The council bought it in 1959 from the Viscount of Trindade’s descendants.
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