History
About Solar
This building belonged to the Viscount of Almeidinha and is located in the heart of the village of Almeidinha.
The original building was probably erected in the middle of the 16th century when Estevão Dias Amaral, representative of the Amarais varony from Cunha Alta, settled there. In 1590 his son, Gaspar Pais de Amaral, built the chapel and in 1610 instituted the bond of the Holy Spirit. In 1746, Manuel Osório do Amaral rebuilt the chapel, placing a tombstone on one of the walls.
At the entrance door, two simple pilasters support a broken pediment on which Manuel Osório do Amaral carved his father's old coat of arms with the Amarais (6 half-moons), Osórios (2 wolves), Cabrais (2 goats) and Fonsecas (5 seven-pointed stars). Later, João Carlos do Amaral Osório de Sousa Pizarro, elevated to 1st Viscount of Almeidinha in 1865, enlarged the house by connecting the chapel to it and built the beautiful triple-arched balcony suspended on strong pilasters, opening onto the central arch, a pediment where he placed his arms: (6 waning moons with the tips turned downwards) and Osórios (2 wolves).
The windows have a small apron and are decorated with a shell at the top. In the centre of the back is a spacious, recessed, covered veranda with tall granite columns.
The original building was probably erected in the middle of the 16th century when Estevão Dias Amaral, representative of the Amarais varony from Cunha Alta, settled there. In 1590 his son, Gaspar Pais de Amaral, built the chapel and in 1610 instituted the bond of the Holy Spirit. In 1746, Manuel Osório do Amaral rebuilt the chapel, placing a tombstone on one of the walls.
At the entrance door, two simple pilasters support a broken pediment on which Manuel Osório do Amaral carved his father's old coat of arms with the Amarais (6 half-moons), Osórios (2 wolves), Cabrais (2 goats) and Fonsecas (5 seven-pointed stars). Later, João Carlos do Amaral Osório de Sousa Pizarro, elevated to 1st Viscount of Almeidinha in 1865, enlarged the house by connecting the chapel to it and built the beautiful triple-arched balcony suspended on strong pilasters, opening onto the central arch, a pediment where he placed his arms: (6 waning moons with the tips turned downwards) and Osórios (2 wolves).
The windows have a small apron and are decorated with a shell at the top. In the centre of the back is a spacious, recessed, covered veranda with tall granite columns.
nside the house, there are still tile panels from the 18th century. The whole complex is located within a vast farm that occupies a large part of the village.
The Casa de Almeidinha, with 18th century tiles and attached gardens, in Almeidinha, Mangualde, is a 16th century structure, enlarged in the mid-18th century and remodelled in the 19th century, with the manor tower and the chapel's starry vault standing out from the original construction. Inside, there are still several ashlars of tiles made in Coimbra, applied in the second half of the 18th century.
The Almeidinha manor house, now under new ownership, underwent restoration work between 2013 and 2015, preserving its architectural lines, both in the main building and in the manor house annexes.
The recent restoration work mainly covered the former agricultural spaces and outbuildings, namely the old stables, the mill, the firewood house, the tulhas, the porch, the winery, the cowshed, the ovens, the pigsties, etc.
The Casa de Almeidinha, with 18th century tiles and attached gardens, in Almeidinha, Mangualde, is a 16th century structure, enlarged in the mid-18th century and remodelled in the 19th century, with the manor tower and the chapel's starry vault standing out from the original construction. Inside, there are still several ashlars of tiles made in Coimbra, applied in the second half of the 18th century.
The Almeidinha manor house, now under new ownership, underwent restoration work between 2013 and 2015, preserving its architectural lines, both in the main building and in the manor house annexes.
The recent restoration work mainly covered the former agricultural spaces and outbuildings, namely the old stables, the mill, the firewood house, the tulhas, the porch, the winery, the cowshed, the ovens, the pigsties, etc.
Quinta do Espirito Santo
The restoration of Quinta do Espirito Santo and the agricultural activity that has always characterised the area is underway, with the expansion and renovation of the century-old olive grove, the ‘Solar de Almeidinha’ olive oil brand having already been registered, as well as the planting of various species of fruit trees, with the aim of recovering some of the traditions of Casa de Almeidinha, such as baked marmalade, etc.
At Quinta do Espirito Santo, there are also the Buchos gardens and the camellia garden, both of which have been classified and have a remarkable landscape setting.
The Quinta's various facilities include a fresco house and a large fountain, formerly covered in 18th century tiles, and the 16th century horse fountain.
At Quinta do Espirito Santo, there are also the Buchos gardens and the camellia garden, both of which have been classified and have a remarkable landscape setting.
The Quinta's various facilities include a fresco house and a large fountain, formerly covered in 18th century tiles, and the 16th century horse fountain.