Palácio Pombal – Carpe Diem Arte e Pesquisa

A 16th century building of Portuguese Plain Architecture, it was built by Sebastião de Carvalho e Melo, the grandfather of the Marquis of Pombal, and it was also known as Solar dos Carvalhos da Rua Formosa (Manor of the Carvalhos of Formosa Street), the former name of O Século Street. Archetype of a 16th century urban manor, counting three storeys and an attic, it was the family’s favourite residence until the 1755 earthquake. After that, and in parallel with the marquis’ ascent to power, the palace goes through various rehabilitation and aggrandizement work. From this resulted the overhaul of its interiors through tiles, stuccos and a two-level noble staircase made of stone. Attributed to Grossi, Italian master stucco worker and sculptor, the stuccos on the ceiling, with allegorical representations and mythological subjects, are spread throughout various rooms, together with panels of blue and white or polychrome tiles. The building has been property of the municipality since 1968 and it belonged to a vast palatial ensemble that was divided and occupied by different entities through the years. With access through number 79 of O Século Street, the noble area of the palace remains intact, having been the headquarters of the Carpe Diem Arte e Pesquisa contemporary art centre between 2009 and 2017.