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From Gallaecia to the Euro-Region
Pazo of Bóveda (Monforte de Lemos)
In 1545, Álvaro de Mendoza and Sotomayor, member of another of the big
families of the area, ordered the construction of the Pazo de Vista Alegre. Its
position was privileged, since it allowed to control the whole perimeter and had
the port at its foot. It is currently inserted into the urban route. A convent was
added to the initial construction, attached to the pazo through a passage arc,
and closed with a perimeter wall that gives the enclosure the characteristic image
that presents nowadays. Other pazos of the area that are worth a visit are the one
of O Rial, characteristic by its chapel and transept, or the ones of Sobrán and
Pardiñas, from the end of the 15th and 16th century, respectively.
Through the whole Galician geography one can find many more, linked to the big
families of the time. Among the best examples there are pazos like the one of Tor in
Monforte de Lemos, the one of Bendoiro in Lalín, or the one of the marquises
of Bóveda in Lugo. In Portugal, one of the best examples is undoubtedly
the Palácio de Mateus in Vila Real, an excellent example of civil Baroque,
attributed to the architect
Nicolau Nasoni, who built
the dwelling in the decade
of 1740 and to which an
equally-Baroque chapel
was added. The ensemble
was completed with the
building destined to be the
winery. Lastly, the site of
the Counts of Resende in
Vila Nova de Gaia also
stands out.
Pazo of Tor (Monforte de Lemos)
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