O Paço de Vitorino das Donas

Abstract

The Solar of Vitorino das Donas is situated in the town with the same name, municipality of Ponte de Lima. It has been known as "burnt houses" because during the Liberal fights it was incinerated by an anti-absolutist faction, since its owner at the time, Francisco de Abreu Pereira Coutinho, was an outspoken supporter of D. Miguel brother of the future King Pedro the IV. The origins of this manor house date back to the sixteenth century when Captain Antonio Ramos, married in first nuptials with D. Ana de Lima, the couple bought the Casal do Barco property in the same parish. Subsequently to marrying an Inca princess and to settling on the property, he initiated the construction of the manor. Very little remains of this building because during the second half of the 18th century it suffered a profound architectural renovation, and thus it gained its current Baroque style.