The town of Vila Viçosa is mainly famous as a result of becoming in earlier times the favorite home of the house of the Duques de Bragança. Originally Dom Jaime began the Palácio de Paço Real in 1501, but when the 8th Duke became the King but much of its interior riches were removed to his palace in Lisbon.
Guided tours of the Palace to view the royal apartments can be taken and some are untouched from the day that Dom Carlos was assassinated in 1908 when riding in his coach through Lisbon. Particularly fascinating is the kitchen and its vast collection of polished copper utensils that were used to feed hundreds at each meal.
There are a number of other interesting buildings in the town including the 14th Century Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Conceição with a Gothic image of the Virgin Mary.
In 1646 the King, Dom João IV, impulsively placed his crown on her head and named her the patron saint of all Portugal. From that day no monarch of Portugal has ever worn a crown on his own head.
Also, to be found in this town is a interesting museum devoted to marble. On show are the many different types of stone and how it is worked and its final destination around the world.
