House of Poco - Lamego

The Archives - Diocesan Museum is housed in the emblematic "Casa do Poço" , a country house that belonged to the Morgado do Poço.

Casa do Poço belonged to Morgado do Poço and today it still has a privileged location, as it is located right in front of the Cathedral of Lamego , in the centre of the city. It was owned by families of the high nobility of Portugal, who mixed with the most important noble houses, and it belonged to the "Carvalho" family until the end of the 19th century. This morgado is mentioned in the 18th century by Felgueiras Gaio, in his book Nobiliário de Famílias de Portugal, Tomo Nono, in which he explains the origin of the surname and the "Carvalho" family.

Its origins are very old and can be seen in its architecture, where you can see two windows beautifully worked in granite with elements from distant times, facing the Rua dos Loureiros, the balcony and the frame belong to the primitive design, 12th century, and the arches and columns from the 16th century.

The manor house has a granite coat of arms on the main façade, facing the cathedral, and another coat of arms above the wrought iron gate that gives access to the courtyard. These coats of arms are quartered and bear the heraldic emblems of Rebelo, Carvalho, Portugal (modern) and Pinto, which confirm their kinship (Carvalho and Pinto) with the Morgados da Casa da Figueira in Quinta da Granja - Figueira, in the municipality of Lamego.

The end of this estate was due to the fact that three of the six children of Maria dos Prazeres de Carvalho Rebelo de Meneses, perhaps the last woman of the house, died unmarried. The house was purchased by the Diocese of Lamego in 1921 and the seminary operated there until 1961, when the new seminary in Lugar da Rina was inaugurated, after which several church services were held in this house. The building now houses the new Museum of Sacred Art of the Diocese, where you can see various art treasures.

Willem Vandenameele