Palácio Real da Bemposta

Just as oysters come from Setúbal, English tea culture comes from Lisbon. Really.

The house was built by Catherine of Braganza — the English queen who invented teatime and for whom the New York borough of Queens is named. As the wife of Charles II, she secured English support for Portugal in the war against Spanish rule and, in return, handed over territories in India to the British. This alliance had many chapters —it’s clear it wasn’t a love story, as evidenced by Charles calling his wife “Bat.” Catherine was similarly enthusiastic about him.

After her husband’s death and the decline of absolutism in England, she returned to Portugal and had a palace built, which she moved into in 1702. Experts say the construction was an early blueprint for the national version of Versailles in Queluz. It’s possible: Catherine was the sister-in-law of Louis XIV. Either way, Bemposta remained a bastion of conservatism: during the Liberal Revolution and the Miguelite Wars, Bemposta was a center for those opposed to a constitution. Eventually, the military academy was established here. With the city’s growth, the opulent forecourt had to make way for a main road.

The details are incredibly fascinating, though no one wants to read too much text here. During the rare opening times (typically Mondays for the palace and Sundays for the remarkable chapel), you’ll have to Google due to the lack of guided tours. Or you can ask us. We’re happy to help if you have the time.