Palace of Ajuda

Palace of Ajuda (Palácio da Ajuda)
Palace (Palácio)
A monument to assassinated monarch King Carlos of Portugal in front entrance to the Ajuda Palace
Official name: Palácio Nacional de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda
Nickname: Palácio da Ajuda
Country	Portugal
Region	Lisbon
Subregion	Grande Lisboa
District	Lisbon
Municipality	Lisbon
Location	Ajuda
- elevation	93 m (305 ft)
- coordinates	38°42′27.34″N 9°11′53.98″W / 38.7075944°N 9.1983278°W / 38.7075944; -9.1983278Coordinates: 38°42′27.34″N 9°11′53.98″W / 38.7075944°N 9.1983278°W / 38.7075944; -9.1983278
Length	126.75 m (416 ft), North-South
Width	113.5 m (372 ft), West-East
Architects	Giacomo Azzolini, Joaquim de Oliveira, João Carlos Bibiena, Manuel Caetano de Sousa, José da Costa e Silva, Francisco Xavier Fabri, Manuel Joaquim de Sousa, Manuel Caetano da Silva Gaião, António Francisco Rosa, José Joaquim de Sousa, Nicolau Pires, Costa Sequeira, Joaquim Possidónio Narciso da Silva, Domingos Parente da Silva
Styles	Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassic
Materials	Brick, Sand, Calcium oxide, Tile, Limestone, Steel, Marble, Jasper, Wood, Stucco
Origin	17 July 1795
- Initiated	9 November 1795
- Completion	never completed
Owner	Portuguese Republic
For public	Public
Visitation	Closed (Wednesdays and on 1 January, Easter Sunday, 1 May and 25 December)
Easiest access	Largo da Ajuda
Management	Instituto Gestão do Patrimonio Arquitectónico e Arqueológico
Operator	Palácio Nacional de Ajuda e Museu
Status	National Monument
Listing	16 June 1910; Decree No. 136, 23 June 1910; Decree No. 253, 29 October 1959
Hours	10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Free access	10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Sundays
Location of the palace within the municipality of Lisbon
Website: www.pnajuda.imc-ip.pt

The Palace of Ajuda (Portuguese: Palácio da Ajuda, Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐˈʒudɐ]) is a neoclassical monument in the civil parish of Ajuda in the city of Lisbon, central Portugal. Built on the site of a temporary wooden building constructed to house the Royal family after the 1755 earthquake and tsunami, it was originally begun by architect Manuel Caetano de Sousa, who planned a late Baroque-Rococo building. Later, it was entrusted to José da Costa e Silva and Francisco Xavier Fabri, who planned a magnificent building in the modern neoclassical style.

Over time the project has undergone several periods when the construction was stopped or slowed due to financial constraints or political conflicts. When the Royal Family had to flee to Brazil (in 1807), following the invasion of Portugal by French troops, and the work proceeded very slowly with Fabri taking charge of the project, later followed by António Francisco Rosa. Lack of financial resources would also a result in the reduction of the projects scale. The construction of the Ajuda Palace, which began in 1796 and lasted until the 19th century, was a project plagued by various/diverse political, economic and artistic/architectonic problems. It was invaded by Napoleon's troops in 1807, and discontinued by Liberal forces who imposed a constitutional monarchy that reduced the power of the monarchy. Artistically, it was a convergence of the Baroque styles from Mafra, very connected to regal authority, with the birth of the Neoclassic style from Italy. These tastes were affected by successive interruptions, due to a lack of funds, political sanctions or disconnection between the workers and authorities who were responsible for the project. The project was various times modified, but were generally authored by Manuel Caetano de Sousa (the last Baroque architect) and, later, Costa e Silva and Fabri, both Bolognese architects whose tastes crossed the architectural spectrum, but in which Neoclassicism predominated.