Évora – Centro de Arte e Cultura – Fundação Eugénio de Almeida
Image by jaime.silva
Casas Pintadas (Painted Houses) owes its name to the singular set of 17th-century frescoes that decorate the gallery and the oratory annex integrated into the garden.
At the time of the execution of the frescoes, Casas Pintadas belonged to D. Francisco da Silveira, 3rd Coudel-mor of D. Manuel I and D. João III and a reference poet in the General Songbook.
At the end of the 16th century, the Painted Houses were annexed to the Palace of the Inquisition to house the judges of the Holy Office.
In the sixties of the twentieth century, they became property of the Eugénio de Almeida Foundation.
The garden gallery decorations are one of the most interesting artistic manifestations of the genre existing in Portugal and a unique example of palatial mural painting from the first half of the 16th century.