Casa de Santa Maria (Sta. Maria House)
Inseparable from the Cascais landscape, in the ensemble it forms with the Santa Marta Lighthouse Museum and the Condes de Castro Guimarรฃes Museum-Library, the Casa de Santa Maria dates from 1902. It is one of the most emblematic works of the architect Raul Lino, who began his career in the municipality of Cascais, designing a series of houses for friends.
At the end of the 19th century, Jorge O'Neil, an aristocrat linked to the tobacco industry, bought some land near Santa Marta and first had the Torre de Sรฃo Sebastiรฃo - now the Museu Condes de Castro Guimarรฃes - built and, a little later, the Casa de Santa Maria.
Around 1917, the property was sold to the engineer Josรฉ Lino Jรบnior, older brother of the architect Raul Lino. Josรฉ Lino, a great collector and art lover, acquired for his new home a set of artistic 17th century tiles and a wooden ceiling painted in oil by Antรณnio de Oliveira Bernardes, from an old chapel in Frielas.
Designed in length, the Casa de Santa Maria is made up of a succession of rooms, the result of a well thought-out growth exercise. Inside, a series of elements stand out, including a large number of figurative and patterned tiles, both country and religious, and the oil-painted wooden ceiling, which was adapted for the dining room. The existence of such a rich and diverse collection of tiles - panels such as the Purification of Our Lady, the Flight into Egypt, the Virgin with Jesus and St. John the Child, the Circumcision, Jesus among the Doctors, Our Lady sewing - reveals an indisputable heritage value, since it is the artistic repertoire of the Portuguese Baroque.
The space, which is popular for themed guided tours, regularly hosts conferences, book presentations, various workshops, temporary exhibitions and free courses. Its facilities can also be used for weddings and other social and promotional events.
In October 2004, Casa de Sta. Maria was acquired by Cascais Town Hall from the Espรญrito Santo family.
Closed:ย Monday | Easter Sunday | May 1st | Christmas Day | New Year's Day
ย
