Ajuda National Palace (Paperback)

The construction of the Royal Palace of Our Lady of Ajuda was commissioned by King Jose I (1714-77) following the destruction of the magnificent Riberia Palace in the earthquake that demolished much of Lisbon in 1755. When fire destroyed the building in 1794, the task of designing a new palace fell to Manuel Caetano de Sousa (1742-1802), who planned it along Baroque architectural lines. It was the official residence of the Portuguese monarchy from the mid-19th century but was closed after the proclamation of the Republic in 1910. It re-opened to the public in 1968 as a museum, housing a spectacular display of decorative arts, silverware and jewellery from the 15th to the 20th centuries.