Restaurants, bars and museums in Lisbon · Page 7

São Bento Palace

São Bento

Monuments & Historic Buildings

Situated in the neighborhood of São Bento, in Lisbon, Portugal, on Largo das Cortes, 1200-995, stands the neoclassical palace, once a monastery, now home to the legislative branch of the Portuguese government, the Assembleia da Republica. The monastery was established by Baltazar de Braga in 1598, in the Order of Saint Benedict, and came to be known as the São Bento da Saúde Monastery. It was affected by the Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. The State then seized the monastery, and it became a Palace of the Courts. The Palace of the Assembly of the Republic also houses the Historical Archives of the Portuguese Parliament and the Passos Manuel Library. The monastery's past is evident in the friars' refectory. The rooms of the palace are rarely open to the public. There is also one source that indicates that police security checks are conducted prior to entrance, and that visitors should expect to wait. Two lions guard the stairs. The main facade of the palace displays female allegorical statues. Temperance, Strength, Justice, and Prudence are displayed along the facade. Palacete de São Bento, located behind the palace, is the official residence of the Prime Minister of Portugal, and was built in 1877. Salazar was the first resident of the mansion. The palace’s garden is open to the public. Other temporary exhibitions are held in the palace. Artists whose work is on display include Vhils, João Cutileiro and Leopoldo de Almeida. The palace is located near Tram 28, and Rato metro stop, the end of the yellow line. From there it is a short walk to the palace. The metro and tram in Lisbon are both part of the transit system covered by the Lisboa Card. Across the street from the palaces are stairs leading to Igreja de Jesus. The home of Amália Rodrigues is a short distance from the palaces, and basilica de Estrela is up the hill near the palaces.

Venues.