A little-known landmark on the outskirts of the city

Good afternoon, everyone!

Welcome to another post in this Weekend Experiences community.

Quinta Alegre.jpg

^{Photocolage made with Canva}

Today I want to share a discovery I made almost by chance. I was discovering outdoor gardens open to the public in the "Campo das Amoreiras" area, in the western part of Lisbon, when I came across this pink-toned building at the bottom of the garden. The garden is very pleasant, but I don't know why something caught my eye to discover the rather imposing building that appeared in my field of vision.

One day I'll take more time to find out more about this triangular garden, located very close to Lisbon International Airport.

When I arrived in front of the building, I knew straight away that I was looking at a farm that had been restored between 2017 and 2018... But there was nothing like going inside, as the main gate was open!

Would you like to come with me? Let's go...

It was originally used for residential purposes - a noble summer house that had been built in the 18th century by Manuel Teles da Silva, the 1st Marquis of Alegrete. In late Baroque style, the Quinta, known as "Quinta Alegre", is part of a garden topped by this imposing yet somewhat discreet two-storey building. Its wrought iron shutters are inscribed with a date of 1819, which I later realized corresponded to the date it was rehabilitated at the behest of José Bento de Araújo. The interior was renovated in the second half of the 18th century and now has Pombaline and Lisbon-style tiles. It was acquired in 1983 by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, and, as I said before, having been rehabilitated in 2017, it is nowadays and after its classification as a Public Interest Building, a key point in the distribution of socio-cultural means, with special emphasis on school-age populations and seniors.

I've brought you some programming for the next few days, so you can find out what I'll be able to see!

For today, I only visited the small library inside and found two books that really interested me. One on black and white photography. And another about the communities that live around the city of Lisbon - in illustration format.

^{Part of the garden at Campo das Amoreiras}

^{Some families were taking advantage of the rain-free weekend... and what could be better than being in contact with nature?}

^{This small bandstand erected in the center of the garden is an indication that it

might be an interesting place to visit in the warmer season}

^{The sky was particularly interesting this afternoon}

^{The façade of the building overlooking the main street, which can be seen from the bottom of the garden}

^{Heritage of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa}

^{As well as being considered a Material Heritage Site of Public Interest, it also won the national award for

urban requalification and rehabilitation in 2018}

^{This courtyard at the entrance, just beyond the entrance gates, is lined all the way around with finely designed tiles in the traditional blue tones of the 19th century}

^{It's impressive how all the details have been carefully restored and those who want to visit have the opportunity to "travel" a little in the history of the Portuguese nobility of the 18th century}

^{The Portuguese sidewalk is also a reference here and therefore the calling card for those taking their first steps on this property}

^{Unfortunately, not all the tiles were recovered, leaving some spaces that had to be covered with blank tiles. Look at the date of the inscription on the entrance gate's coat of arms: 1819}

^{The view from one of the shutters, towards the Charneca Town Hall}

^{The details of an art that has long been one of the most represented in important buildings

in the various cities and even villages of Portugal}

^{The model of what has been built since the recovery in 2017}

^{The main corridor on the first floor. The first entrance on the right leads to the stairs that take you to the second floor, which was closed to the general public at this time of day}

^{One of the rooms that was still open at this time today. A performance workshop had just taken place with elementary school pupils}

^{I lose myself in the time I spend leafing through and admiring the faces and facial expressions of those photographed}

^{I also had time to leaf through this collaborative book with illustrations by various artists. This book tells the story of the patchwork that is the society that lives in this part of the city... and many of them with some social deprivation}