Guided visit to the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza

Taking place entirely inside of the Palace of the Dukes of Braganza, this recreation aims to approach, in a fun and educational way, the life, charity work and stories around Lady Constance of Noronha, Duchess of Braganza, the only permanent inhabitant of this medieval Palace. An educated and pious woman, she was raised and married in the environment of the palatial intrigues. It was acclaimed Saint by the popular that she helped.

The Ducal Palace of the Braganza in Guimarães was ordered built in the 15th Century by Afonso - an illegitimate son of king João I and Inês Pires Esteves - which was the 1st Duke of the House of Bragança and the 8th Count of Barcelos. He had it built at the time of his second marriage with Constança of Noronha (daughter of Afonso, Count of Gijón and Noronha and Isabel, Lady of Viseu).

The palace was only inhabited permanently during the 15th Century and in the following centuries a progressive abandonment and consequent ruin settled. This condition was only altered when - in the 19th century - what was left of the palace was reused so a military barracks could be installed in its premises and, in the 20th century, due to political motivations, it was fully rebuilt. Between 1937 and 1959 a complex reconstruction was carried out based on a project by the architect Rogério de Azevedo. At the same time, a Commission was created to gather a group of objects, dating mostly from the 17th and 18th centuries, in order to assemble the interiors.