A 19th Century Mansion And Its Hanging Garden Facing The Tagus

A 19th-century mansion and its hanging garden facing the Tagus

On the slopes below São Jorge Castle, where the lanes of old Lisbon wind around the ancient walls, the Costa do Castelo overlooks the city. It is on this natural belvedere, one of the most exclusive addresses in the historic centre, that where this 19th-century building stands.

Fully renovated, it extends over 648 m² on four levels, currently arranged as four independent units. Works could restore its original layout and make it a single home once again, according to the wishes of its future owner. The renovation chose to separate the living spaces so as to welcome several members of the same family, each free to live as they please. It has nonetheless preserved the memory of the place: the ceiling cornices, the original wooden floors, the wooden shutters and the French windows have all been kept, and an ornamental skylight still draws daylight into the heart of the central staircase.

On the ground floor, a vast open space lends itself to a gallery, a commercial activity or a garage. The first floor houses an apartment with two en-suite bedrooms. The second floor offers a double living room, a separate dining room, an en-suite bedroom and a study, all with access to the garden. On the top floor, the penthouse opens onto a terrace from which the eye sweeps across the city’s rooftops to the Tagus, with the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Cristo Rei in the background.

Yet it is the garden, unrivalled in Lisbon, that gives this residence its true charm. Spanning 588 m², it descends in successive terraces, between pergolas, shaded corners and lush vegetation, down to a private viewpoint facing the river. A guest annex with its own bathroom lies tucked away within it.

Seven bedrooms in all, a unique garden in the heart of the historic centre, a view over the Tagus: such a combination has become almost impossible to find in Lisbon.
Energy Rating: C
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