page_title: Palace of Correio-Mor
section_title: Architecture
hierarchical_section_title: Palace of Correio-Mor / Architecture
caption_attribution_description: Português: Esboço da fachada da Quinta do Correio-mor
context_page_description: The Palace of the High Courier of Loures, is a palatial residence in the civil parish of Loures, in the municipality of the same name in the periphery of the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. The imposing Baroque-era residence, is a "U"-shaped layout, consisting of courtyard leading to staircase and two-storey building decorated in azulejos, stucco artistic works and paintings, that was once home to the Counts and Marquesses of Penafiel.
context_section_description: The palace is located on the outskirts of the parish of Loures, on large tracts of forested lands that include a sizeable "frontyard". Entrance to the building is made by accessing the main gate, that includes a portico with the sculpted coat-of-arms of the Counts/Marquesses of Penfiel.
  The layout of the building follows a "U"-shaped plan, comprising a central body that extends to the formal gardens in the rear (that also includes a tower in the southwest) and lateral wings (north and south).
  It is a two-storey building, separated by friezes and an intermediary mezzanine, with tiled roof. Generally, the facades are broken by a regular fenestration: with a mixture of vertical rectangular and rounded doorways, in addition to ocula, on the first floor, square windows on the intermediary levels and rectangular windows that include pediments on the third floor, while a large pediment completes the second-floor of the central body. In this central wing, entry is made by two rounded doorways in the courtyard, flanked on either side by three ocula; the second floor continues with square windows, while the third floor includes tall rectangular windows and pediments. Above the first-floor rounded doors are three large windows (the largest being the central), that are surmounted by a curved pediment with the image of Nossa Senhora da Oliveira (Our Lady of the Olive Tree), and topped by pinnacles.
  The first floor is taken up by agricultural dependencies: a wine cellar consisting of three naves, stables and a kitchen decorated in azulejo tile (showing an undetermined figure, meat and fish).
  Access to the "noble's entrance" (on the second floor) occurred by way of a central staircase from the courtyard. At the top of this staircase is a fountain with "Samaritan" and sculpted figures on either side holding medallions with the busts of the property-owners.
  The halls of the residence are decorated in azulejo, paintings and works in stucco. Such as the Central Hall, with azulejo depicting the life of man, in parallel with another depicting the construction of a ship. Other rooms of interest are the Sala dos Troféus (Trophy Hall), Sala das Estações (Hall of Seasons), Sala da Fauna (Hall of the Faun) and the Sala da Música (Hall of Music). The azulejos of the Sala de Caça (Hunting Room) are part of the "grand production" of the Joanino Baroque, or artistic period during the reign of King John V of Portugal, which were ultimately completed by Bartolomeu Antunes. From the beginning of the Rococo were the Sala das Estações, and Sala da Fama (both painted in blue), and the second group, consisting of the Sala das Trofeus and Sala de Música, which were completely later.
  The chapel is a rectangular structure, with walls in stucco, retable with columns, and framed ceiling. Although the palace is an excellent example of the Baroque civil architectural style, owing to its grande dimensions and rich decorative interior, this chapel is counterpoint, seemingly confined and austere.
  To the rear of the central body is garden of boxwood, with central lake and a few statutes. Also on the estate is a waterfall and tank, with azulejo panels showing the Metamorfoses de Ovídio (Metamorphoses).
caption: An engraving of the Quinta da Matta, showing front profile
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