CASA DOS BICOS
A 16th century architectural curiosity
This "House of Spikes" is an architectural curiosity, faced with
diamond-shaped stones (a total of 1125).
It is a 16th century palace that
belonged to Afonso de Albuquerque, the Portuguese viceroy of India, and is one of the
very few buildings that survived the 1755 earthquake.
It is thought to have been modelled on the palaces of Venice, although the two upper floors have exuberant arched windows characteristic
of the Portuguese Manueline style.
Its interior is occupied by the Saramago Foundation, a space dedicated to the
Nobel Prize-winning Portuguese writer. It hosts special literary events and contains the author's library.
There are tourist shops in the vicinity as well as cheap restaurants known for their traditional grilled fish dishes.
Ride Lisbon's metro, buses, and trams for FREE with the Lisboa Card.
How to Visit
Where: Rua dos Bacalhoeiros, Alfama
How: Walk from Comercio Square.
When: Only opens for temporary exhibitions.
Sights Nearby
Comercio
Square - Monumental riverside square.
Municipal
Square - Home of the City Hall palace.
Rua
Augusta - The city's main shopping street.
Conceição
Velha Church - Church that survived the Great Earthquake.
The
National Pantheon - The domed church that took centuries to complete.
Santo
Antonio Church - Saint Anthony's birthplace.
The
Roman Theater - The archaological remains of a once large Roman theater.
Fado
Museum - The story of the national music.
Military
Museum - A testament to the country's battles.
Doca do
Jardim do Tabaco - Sleek restaurants and club on the waterfront.
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