Color Challenge Monday Red

For today's colour challenge, I chose the informational marks that Condeixa (my hometown, Coimbra's District) has throughout the village for the most important buildings. I chose this specific one because of the grandiosity of the building it refers to!

I'm referring to this spectacular palace!

Sotto Mayor's Palace!

"Property of Ramalho's Family, then Lemos' and finally Sotto Mayor's, this palace was successively named after the last names of its owners. On the main facade, we can see Ramalho and Lemos Families' crests. Built in the XVII century, it was however during the pombaline era that it suffered the restorations that gave it the actual physiognomy. 

With the French invasions - and particularly with the fire set on by the napoleonic troops - polemic started to raise around this palaca. Because it escaped unharmed to the devastation that great part of the village suffered, speculations were created and suspicions built up as to the fidelity of its owner, Manuel Pereira Ramos de Azeredo Coutinho Ramalho, to the national cause, pointing out a supposed strategical alliance with Massena's headquarters as the main cause for the preservation of the palace. During the XVIII, XIX and XX centuries, and to the resemblance of other mansions, the palace hosted important figures of the national History such as D. João VI (the regent prince at the time), D. Miguel I, D. Maria II, D. Pedro V, the king D. Carlos, accompanied by D. Luís Filipe, and even the writer Alexandre Herculano.

The palace is private property."

Adapted and translated from the City Hall website!