History Palacette of the Visconts of Balsemão

the coat-of-arms of viscount of trindade



the residenace of viscounts of balsemão , trindade along praça carlos alberto

in second-half of 18th century, residence constructed nobleman josé alvo brandão, along then-designated largo dos ferradores.

following 1800 wedding of d. maria rosa alvo , cousin/step-brother, luís máximo alfredo pinto de sousa coutinho (later second viscount of balsemão) house passed hands of balsemão family.

between 1834 , 1837, following death of second viscount, spaces used provisionally house academia politécnica porto (poly-technic academy of porto), while old academy occupied military hospital, during liberal wars.

in 1840, antónio bernardino pexe (or peixe) rented building, , transferred site, lodging rua bonjardim. in april 1849, charles albert of sardinia, king of sardinia, took refuge in portugal during time, following defeat @ battle of novara. while home being prepared, former-king installed residence @ palacette. in 1852, square began re-designated praça carlos alberto former monarch.

two years later acquired 1st viscount of trindade, josé antónio de sousa basto, great property-owner , capitalist, complete complete renovation of building. between 1885 , 1886, painter francisco josé resende executed 4 paintings viscount (portraits of d. luís i, queen d. maria pia, prince d. carlos , infante d. afonso) ordered counsel josé guilherme pacheco, later found way various municipal buildings. in 1862, king d. luís , queen d. maria pia, went palacette visit king carlos alberto, grandfather of d. maria pia.

throughout 20th century, building expanded, renovated , modernized support activities on site. following republican revolution, in 1907 gas company of lisbon began operating site, assuming role of municipal services of porto 1920, responsible gas , electricity. in 1959 municipal council of porto bought building descendants of viscount of trindade. in 1989, descendent, edp (the national energy/electricity producer), moved out of building.

the municipal council installed culture directorate (direção de cultura) in building in 1996.

in 2004, resende portraits re-united, restored , placed on exhibition in palacette once more.