Belém Palace

The Palácio Nacional de Belém, or just Palácio de Belém to German National Palace to Belém, is a 1559 -built palace in the Belem district of Lisbon, Portugal, which was first used by the Portuguese royal family as a guest house and at times as a residence. Since the Carnation Revolution 1974 and the introduction of the new Portuguese Constitution, nestled at the Praça Afonso de Albuquerque is " Palacio " permanent seat of the Portuguese President.

History

Palace by the Tagus under Manuel of Portugal and the Counts of Aveiras

Manuel of Portugal longed for a representative near the Portuguese capital and therefore had to the 1559 Quinta do Baixo (also known as Quinta do Meio known) in what was then the Lisbon suburb of Belem build near the then recently completed Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. At this time the banks of the River Tagus capital was much narrower, so that the palace was almost right on the water and large gardens lined the riverbank. In the 17th century, the palace became the property of the Condes de Aveiras, Count of Aveiras ( Azambuja ). From this period the five individual buildings that characterize the external image of the palace, as well as the terraces from which a view of the adjacent Tagus is possible.

Transition into royal property

1726 bought João V, who had considerably increased his fortune with a Brazilian gold, the terrain the Earl of Aveiras, João da Silveira Telo e Meneses, from and let it basic, especially with respect to the interior change. From the time comes sumptuously decorated rooms, often with no firm evidence as busts and medallions on the authorship of João V. It is said that King João had used the palace mainly for its discrete, amorous conquests. At that time the palace was the Leoneiras known under the name of Casa Real de Campo de Belém ( "Royal Villa for Belém " ) and Palácio ( roughly " Palace of the heads of lions ").

During the earthquake of Lisbon in 1755, the royal family was staying at King José I in Belém and so escaped the substantial destruction in the city center, where among other things the Lisbon Royal Palace on Tejoufer, the Paço da Ribeira the earthquake fell victim. During the following weeks, the family therefore resided in tents next to the Palácio de Belém, while he himself served as a replacement hospital. The Palácio still suffered some damage from the earthquake, the reconstruction was carried out first by the architect João Pedro Ludovice, later Mateus Vicente de Oliveira.

Under the reign of Mary I of the Palácio was extended by a small Affenzoo. At the instigation of her son João, later King João VI. , Who was known as a great horse lover who built under the Earl of Aveiras riding stable was demolished. João left the Italian architect Giacomo Azzolini a new stables or a small, 50 -meter long and 17 meter wide horse arena design. Construction work began in 1786 could be finally completed until 1828 because of the many artistic designs Portuguese artist. In the stables now houses the National Coach Museum.

Guest house in Belém

At times, the Palácio de Belém was the royal seat. So Mary II of England resided for decades in the palace, as the Palácio Necessidades was rebuilt. She planned there with conservative politicians, among others, also a coup attempt, the so-called Belenzada. Since the rule of Luís ' I. The palace served as a guesthouse. Among others there spent Queen Isabella II of Spain, King Amadeus of Savoy, King Alfonso XIII. of Spain, Emperor Wilhelm II and French President Émile Loubet their Lisbon stays. At times, resided Prince Carlos I and his wife Amélie of Orléans there, after his accession, they returned in the Palácio Necessidades to.

Residence of the President

After the Portuguese revolution of 1910, the Palácio de Belém took over the function as the seat of the President of the Republic. In order not to give the impression that the Amtinshaber would abuse the same rights as their royal predecessors, they had to pay to the government a monthly rent for the use of the palace. In the time of the First Portuguese Republic, the wake for the slain president Sidónio Pais was held there, among other things, Bernardino Machado announced his resignation in the palace, and thus the practical resolution of the First Republic.

At the time of the Estado Novo, the importance of the Palácio de Belém shrank considerably. Although the palace was still the seat of the President of the Republic, which, however, according to the Portuguese Constitution of 1933 did not play any role in the political life. Only Francisco Craveiro Lopes lived a long time (1951-1958) in the palace, Américo Tomás used the Palácio de Belém only for official receptions. Due to the low significance of the Palace of Belem district was not a target of the revolutionaries in the Carnation Revolution in 1974.

After the Carnation Revolution of 25 April 1974, the group of Portuguese officers resided with the name Junta de Salvação Nacional in the palace, which had initially taken over the business of government after the revolution. The President Spinola and Costa Gomes resided in its capacity as interim president in the palace. After the new constitution of 1976 came into force, the Palácio de Belém acted again as the official residence of the Portuguese President. So far, only lived the first President Ramalho Eanes, the palace itself The following incumbent, Soares, Sampaio and the current President Cavaco Silva, used and use it only as a place of work and have their own apartments in Lisbon.

Through its function as residence of the President almost all foreign delegations and government in Palácio de Belém are received. Weekly, usually on Thursday, the President receives the Prime Minister for a working meeting, the Prime Minister informed the President while on the current situation of the government and the country. Every third Sunday of the month, usually at eleven clock, is the official changing of the guard of the Guarda Nacional Republicana that serves the President, on the Praça Afonso de Albuquerque in front of the palace instead.

At President Jorge Sampaio of Portugal, the Ministry of Culture of the Museu Presidencia taught 6th October 2004 at the west wing of the palace da da República, a museum on the history and function of all previous democratic president of Portugal.

Since 24 January 1967, the Palácio was Classifiable by the conservation authority as Móvel do interest público ( " property of the public interest "). Since 3 August 2007, the IGESPAR the Palácio Nacional de Belém Classifiable as a Monumento Nacional ( " National Monument ").