Do nascimento ao abandono

Abstract

In this article we will cover the history of the Junqueira Palace, from its construction to the moment it was acquired by the Portuguese State. We will follow the way in which this building had different owners and occupants, resulting in the designations for what it is kown, Patriarch’s Palace and Burnay Palace. Each of the owners gave it their own taste, visible in the architecture, interior decoration, and garden design. We will begin with the construction of the building by order of D. José César de Meneses, knowing that, after 1755, it was rented by the Church, starting to function as the summer palace of the Patriarch of Lisbon. In 1853, it was acquired by Manuel Pinto da Fonseca, a slave trader known as «Monte Cristo». It was later in the possession of D. Sebastião de Bourbon (a member of the royal family), being acquired, in 1882, by the Count of Burnay — who was the owner who had the greatest impact on the building’s history. Finally, we will continue to the present day, remembering the urgency of defending, preserving, and giving new life to this building.