The Palace History

The word Palace derives from the Latin word palatium, from Mount Palatino, where Augustus had his magnificent house built.

Right after the earthquake from 1755, the first Baron of Porto Covo, Jacinto Fernandes Bandeira, built his house in S. Domingos Street starting the creation of the Lapa district.

Approximately 115 years later, in 1870, the succeeding Viscount built for one of his sons a beautiful house in the Lapa District. The house was later sold to the Counts of Valenças, who in 1883 decided to transform it into a Palace.

Some of the famous artists who participated in the decoration of the Palace were Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro and Columbano.  Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro was one of the greatest Portuguese ceramists of the 19th century.  At the Count's request, he created for the Palace pieces of furniture and tiles.  Columbano, the greatest portrait painter of his time, called by some the 'painter of broken souls', has painted the walls and ceilings of the original ballroom (today the Columbano Room) with the theme Dancing through Times.  Many of the characters portrayed in the wall paintings are aristocrats of the Lisbon high life, like the Count of Arnoso, the Viscount of Sacavém or the oldest son of the Count.

The Louis XV room used to be the ladies' boudoir, where the ladies would socialize modestly, following the philosophy of the Louis XV style.  The first floor of the Palace (today the 5th floor of Lapa Palace) was the noble floor, where the dining room, living room and ballroom used to be.  Today it is still the noble floor, where the Suite Count of Valenças is located.  The Tower (now part of the Tower Room) was the dressing room of the Count, who loved to watch the beautiful views while he was dressing.

The Palace remained a family house until 1992, when the family of the Count sold it to the family Simões de Almeida, who turned it into a hotel, Hotel da Lapa.  Orient-Express Hotels has acquired the hotel in 1998 and inaugurated the Villa (a new wing) in 2002, with 2 suites, 4 junior suites and 8 rooms, all with balcony and beautiful views over the gardens. 

The rooms and suites of the new wing have been redecorated with Portuguese fabrics and furniture and the decoration is different in every floor.

The 21 rooms and the Suite Count of Valenças of the original Palace built in 1870, were all redecorated too in 2003, with Portuguese furniture made in the North of Portugal, in Paços de Ferreira, where excellent craftsmen have recreated the furniture in the styles D. João V, D. Maria I and D. José.

The Suite Count of Valenças and five other deluxe rooms are located on the 5th floor of the Palace, the noble floor.  These have been carefully redecorated with lamps, mirrors and furniture recovered from the original Palace's furniture.  The gold leaves of the walls of the Suite Count of Valenças (originally part of the ballroom) have been restored as well as two big mirrors, placed in the living room.