photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
joseantonio | all galleries >> Galleries >> LISBON (PORTUGAL) > Casa dos Bicos
previous | next
08-DEC-2014

Casa dos Bicos

The Casa dos Bicos (Portuguese for House of the Spikes) is a historical house in the city of Lisbon. The house, built in the early 16th century in the Alfama neighbourhood, has a curious façade of Renaissance and Manueline influence. It survived the disastrous 1755 Lisbon Earthquake that destroyed much of the city, though it was seriously damaged.The Casa dos Bicos was built around 1523 by Brás de Albuquerque (1501–1581), son of the first governor of Portuguese India, Afonso de Albuquerque. Brás de Albuquerque had spent some years in Italy, where he could get first hand contact with Italian Renaissance architecture. He presumably saw urban palaces like the Palazzo dei Diamanti, in Ferrara, that have façades covered with diamond-shaped spikes. Upon his return to Portugal, Brás de Albuquerque built the Casa dos Bicos with a façade featuring "diamonds" like in the Italian palace, but incorporating Manueline (Portuguese late Gothic) windows and portals.
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake destroyed a great part of the building. The main façade was destroyed, and the two upper storeys of the façade facing the Bacalhoeiros street (the current main façade) came down. The house was kept in possession of the Albuquerque family until the 19th century, when it was acquired by a codfish trader. It was used for years as a storage house for codfish (Bacalhau). Around 1960 the house was acquired by the Lisbon Municipality.

Canon EOS 70D
1/640s f/5.6 at 18.0mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium large original auto
share
Jim Coffman10-Feb-2015 18:04
Nice capture of this very interesting building!
Helen Betts10-Feb-2015 17:50
Such a fascinating facade, and well captured in that light. V.
JSB PHOTOGRAPHS10-Feb-2015 17:46
Amazing textures, I really like how the light and shadows are highlighted on this biulding. ~V~
Dave Petersen Photography10-Feb-2015 17:40
The texture on the main building is very interesting. I have not seen anything like that before. You did a beautiful job with your capture and the light is very nice. Voted
Tom Munson10-Feb-2015 17:28
Beautiful image of this wonderful old building.
Commenting on this page requires full PBase membership.
Please login or register.