A Journey through Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon

First Floor

Sala dos Archeiros (Archer's Hall)

Named after the honor guard stationed there from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m., is a well-lit hall with two windows and three rectangular doors. These entrances are adorned with golden metal shields and decorative paintings depicting military victories. The vaulted ceiling of the hall, painted by José da Cunha Taborda, displays the Portuguese Royal coat of arms. The windows and doors are embellished with paintings, and the partially carpeted parquet floor adds to the hall's grandeur. Currently, this hall serves as the main entrance for visitors to the Palace and the concierge's desk.

Sala do Porteiro da Cana (Cane Concierge Hall)

Also known as the Hall of Announcement, was used to announce visitors. It features a false cupola with square shapes, supported by plain columns and Corinthian capitals. At the center of the hall, there is an allegorical representation of Justice, flanked by two medallions depicting John IV and Carlota Joaquina. The hall is adorned with parquet floors.

Sala das Tapeçarias Espanholas (The Spanish Tapestry Hall)

Also referred to as the Canopy Room or the Audience Hall, houses eight Spanish tapestries of varying sizes. These tapestries depict themes such as dance, walking in Andaluzia, card games, fountains, lunch, departure for the hunt, return from the hunt, and huntsmen. King Luís and Queen Maria Pia used this hall as a waiting room for formal guests. The semi-vaulted ceiling features an allegorical mural representing King John IV's departure for Brazil. The hall also contains various paintings, architectural elements, wooden cornices, and a parquet floor. Additionally, the hall is furnished with a large desk, gold-leaf wooden chairs covered in red velvet, and polished crests with chiseled bronze elements.

Antecâmara da Sala do Despacho (The Antechamber of the Hall of Order)

Also known as the Hall of Dom Carlos' Painting or Dom Sebastian's Hall, is a small room. Its ceiling is painted with the figure of Diana and scenes from the hunt, while representations of Mercury, Vulcan, Science, and Peace adorn the doors.

Sala do Despacho (The Hall of Order)

Another room used for state functions and official duties, has a flattened vaulted ceiling. The ceiling is painted with depictions of Aurora bringing Public Happiness, Abundance, Lies, and Justice. The room features military motifs on its moldings. An Italian black marble fireplace/stove is situated on one side of the room, adorned with two Ionic columns, a frieze with floral ornamentation, and a metal fireguard. The parquet floor is arranged in a geometric pattern. The room is decorated with gold-velvet chairs, large vases, lowboy furniture, and a red-velvet-topped table.

Sala dos Contadores (The Accountants Hall)

Also known as the Lowboy/Chest of Drawers Room, is a small passage with inlaid parquet.

Sala de Música (The Music Room)

Has a rectangular ceiling painting in sepia, white, and gold tones. Eight medallions representing the arms of Portugal and the Dukes of Braganza, as well as crosses of the military orders, are displayed. The walls are covered in pink silk, and the floor is adorned with parquet. An enormous oak wood fireplace/stove is situated at one end of the room. Glass display cabinets with ornate friezes and cornices are aligned on either side of the fireplace/stove. Musical instruments are displayed in the center, surrounded by velvet-lined bunk seating and several paintings.

Quarto do Rei D. Luís (King Luís's Room)

Covered in white and gold painted wood-paneled wainscoting, retains its original un-restored wall colors. The painted ceiling depicts an allegorical representation of Peace by Cyrillo Volkmar Machado, featuring figures, mythical figures, and flowers in each corner. The main ceiling resembles an open-air cupola. The walls are simply painted in white with gold trim, divided into square panels. The parquet floor complements the room's design. The room is furnished with an ornate bed, table, white-velvet chairs, and a writer's desk. Statues stand in the window niches on the opposite wall from the bed. Paintings of Portuguese monarchs adorn one of the walls, while a full-size painting of King Carlos of Portugal hangs above the desk.

Antecâmara do Quarto Real (The Antechamber of the Royal Bedroom)

Continues the wainscoting and painted friezes found in the main bedroom, adorned with coiled phytomorphic elements that repeat at a higher level on the walls.

Sala Azul (The Blue Room)

Despite its name, is not actually blue. It is covered in white and gold silk walls and drapery, with matching chairs and a cushioned sofa on a parquet floor. This room was remodeled by Possidónio da Silva between 1863 and 1865 to serve as a Royal sitting room in Queen Maria Pia's preferred style. The room includes visual effects that create a proportioned space, such as two grand mirrors on opposite walls and a Romanesque arch opening that extends the view into the neighboring Oak Cabinet annex.

Gabinete de Carvalho (The Oak Cabinet)

An annex that once served as a smoking room during a period when men and women socialized separately, is trimmed in oak. It features red-velvet drapery and chairs, adorned with paintings of King Luís's favorite ships, as well as an oak chest of drawers.

Jardim de Inverno (The Winter Garden)

Also known as the Marble Hall, is covered in marble and agate gifted to the Royal Family by the Portuguese Viceroy to Egypt. It includes a Carrara marble fountain with a tank and pinnacle structure. Bronze cranes, busts, two large ornate bird cages, vases, and cushioned chairs reminiscent of outdoor furniture surround the fountain. Potted and hanging plants contribute to the impression of an enclosed outdoor environment.

Sala Cor-de-Rosa (The Pink Room)

The Pink Room, a small room covered in pink silk, was specifically created to display the Queen's porcelain collection. Many figurines are showcased on sills along the walls, and the furniture is either painted pink or covered in pink velvet.

Sala Verde (The Green Room)

Clad in green silk, features a white painted ceiling with golden elements and decorative paintings, including a large 1876 portrait of the Royal Family by Joseph Fortuné-Séraphin Layraud. The room's green drapery complements the parquet floor with geometric elements. A large Rococo-style white marble fireplace/stove adorns one wall, embellished with golden phytomorphic elements and the arms of Portugal. The room served as a private space for the Queen to conduct official duties or receive visitors. It was also where she gave birth to the royal heir, Prince Carlos. A small antechamber to the left, known as the Red Room, had various uses throughout history, including a washroom, oratory, workroom, or writing room. It currently displays portraits, busts, a chest of drawers, and a writing table.

Sala de Saxe (The Saxe Room)

The Saxe Room is lined with silk and features a plaster ceiling adorned with flowers, birds, and butterflies. It currently exhibits toys and objects associated with Infantes Carlos and Afonso. This room is located to the right of the Green Room, and it once displayed Portuguese medallions and paintings of Italian landscapes.

Quarto da Rainha (Queen's Bedroom)

Queen's Bedroom, decorated in the Napoleonic style of 1861, features walls covered in blue silk with a silver pattern. The ceiling is painted with allegorical depictions of Faith, Hope, Charity, and John the Baptist. The room is adorned with religious iconography, ornate wood furniture, and a large canopy bed in blue, gold, and silver colors. The carpeted floor includes a polar bear hide. Adjacent to the bedroom is the "toucador," a changing room and toilette. It continues the carpeted space from the bedroom and features a large three-pane standing mirror, a fireplace, a chest of drawers, and a commode. The room is decorated in rich brown and gold trim with phytomorphic elements and paintings of Diana, Juno, Venus, and Minerva over the doorways. The actual bathroom, while more practical than decorative, includes painted moldings, rich wood trim, a bathtub, double lavatory, double sink, and bidet. These hygienic innovations were imported from England around 1880.

A Casa de Jantar da Rainha (Queen's Dining Room)

Queen's Dining Room, a private dining room not originally planned in the 1802 design of the Palace but added by 1880, is decorated in red silk and rich wood grain trim from floor to ceiling. It features a wood fireplace/stove on one wall, surmounted by a large mirror. The opposite wall provides an entrance to the adjacent Billiard Room. The floor is covered with inlaid parquet and adorned with a bronze lustre.

Sala de Bilhar (The Billiard Room)

Replaced an older room on the second floor and was where King Luís would retire after dinner while the Queen and guests would gather in the Blue Room. Occasionally, the Queen would join the King for a game or play with her piano teacher, Mrs. Cart. The room is an elaborate extension of the adjacent Dining Room, featuring a parquet floor, a wood fireplace, lateral wooden pilasters, and dark wood grain-colored walls. Long bunk sofas line the walls, and a large carved wood fireplace with cherubs and a built-in mirror serves as the centerpiece. The central pool table occupies most of the space.

These various rooms within the Palace showcase exquisite design, opulent furnishings, and historical artifacts, providing a glimpse into the rich history of the Portuguese monarchy.

Second Floor

Guests invited to State functions or celebrations would enter the palace through the vestibule, ascending the magnificent Escadaria Nobre, a grand staircase that leads to the second floor. This enclosed staircase boasts exquisite carvings on the ceiling, zigzagging its way to the upper landing adorned with rounded stained glass bearing the royal coat of arms and a painted ceiling. On the second floor, visitors will discover several remarkable rooms within the palace:

Atelier de Pintura do Rei (King's Painting Workshop):

Preceded by a gallery showcasing King Carlos' artworks, this room features white carved walls, a paneled ceiling, and windows framed by arches and canopies. A wooden staircase guarded by four intricately designed foils leads to a parquet-floored space.

Biblioteca (Library):

Covered in oak wood, the library includes paneling, doors, trim, and a fireplace flanked by two Atlantean warriors.

Sala de Trabalho do Rei (King's Office):

The beige-painted walls of this room feature wainscoting and trim adorned with geometric elements and foliage. A panel depicting Saturn takes center stage, while the parquet wood floor showcases various shades of embossed wood. A bronze crystal chandelier hangs from the ceiling.

Sala das Iniciais L.M. (Initials L & M Room):

This relatively small rectangular space boasts an allegorical scene portraying the initials L and M for King Luís and Queen Maria Pia. The room features a wide crown molding adorned with stars and military motifs, along with meandering ornate friezes. The walls are covered with draperies of matching fabric, and the floor is adorned with parquet.

Sala Chinesa (Chinese Room):

This room is entirely decorated with natural silk, forming a tent-shaped ceiling. Chinese porcelain, chandeliers, and small metal lamps, along with red doorways featuring gold trim in Oriental motifs, complete the decor. The room was stratified based on the class structure, as visitors to the monarchs' residence would progress through various rooms until reaching the throne room.

Sala Império (Imperial Salon):

With a pink-painted wainscoting and silk-covered walls, this room boasts ornate motifs on the ceiling and a meandering frieze. The floor is adorned with inlaid parquet.

Sala do Retrato da Rainha (Queen's Portrait Room):

A wide room featuring a ceiling painting depicting Vingança and Justiça Divina framed by phytomorphic elements. The walls are lined with red silk, and the parquet floor adds to the room's grandeur. The room is dominated by a full-length portrait of Maria Pia, wearing a blue and white ball gown, with an opposite portrait of Infante Afonso, Duke of Porto.

Sala dos Gobelins (Gobelins Room):

The ceiling of this space is painted blue, adorned with phytomorphic and festive elements in white.

Sala do Corpo Diplomático (Diplomatic Corp's Room):

This room served as a waiting area for visiting ambassadors and members of the diplomatic corps before being presented in the throne room. The room features classical motifs, including a ceiling with animals, figures, and chariots inspired by a Greek frieze. Painted walls and an inlaid parquet floor add to the room's elegance. Portraits of John VI of Portugal and Carlota Joaquina adorn opposite walls, and a small antechamber adjacent to the room allowed visitors to wait before their presentation to the monarchs.

Sala do Trono (Throne Room):

Occupying the southern tower of the palace, this spacious room features a ceiling adorned with the Virtude Heróica, exalting the royalty of Miguel of Portugal. The room is draped in red silk, and the floor is covered with parquet and an Aubusson carpet. Two thrones, belonging to Luís and Maria Pia, are positioned on a small platform under a red draped canopy. Draped passageways and strategically placed red velvet chairs and bunks contribute to the room's grand ambiance.

Sala de Baile (Ballroom) or Sala de D. João VI (King John VI's Hall):

This formal ballroom houses an upper gallery for musicians and showcases full-length portraits of Luís and Maria Pia near the entrance. Red silk covers the walls, while the ceiling is divided into seven panels, with the central panel depicting the allegorical Concílio dos Deuses. Three crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, and a large landscape painting depicting the return of John VI from Brazil adorns one wall, opposite windows and mirrors.

Sala da Ceia (Supper Room):

Serving as the grand dining hall for state dinners and ceremonial events, this long hall features two long tables for visitors and a main table intersecting them for the Royal Family. The ceiling is adorned with an allegorical depiction paying tribute to John VI, featuring a sun chariot with Apollo surrounded by the Horae, months, seasons, and other allegorical figures. Three large bronze crystal chandeliers illuminate the space, and an upper gallery hosts musicians. The opposite wing includes a staircase in the vestibule, connecting the upper spaces and rooms, and was adapted to accommodate various activities.