Palace Duques de Bragança, Guimarães Castle & Church of S. Miguel

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(public bathroom around the corner)

Open between 9am & 8pm - Buy joint ticket: Alberto Sampaio Museum , Palace of the Dukes of Bragança and Guimarães Castle — €8.00

The Palace of the Dukes of Braganza was constructed on the orders of Afonso de Barcelos, an illegitimate son of King João I, in the early 15th century from about 1420.

Afonso was later to become the first Duke of Braganza. Afonso's successors resided here until they moved to the much grander and larger Vila Viçosa Ducal Palace near Elvas and Estremoz from the early 16th century onwards.

The design of the Paço dos Duques de Bragança was based on French manor houses of the period.

Between the 16th and 19th centuries the palace fell into semi-ruin and many of its building stones were taken away to be used for other purposes.

During the Estado Novo period under Salazar, a reconstruction by the architect Rogério de Azevedo was completed between 1937 and 1959 which conferred a grandeur on the property which it probably never possessed. Indeed, it is believed the original building was not complete when the Duke decamped to Vila Viçosa.