GRILO PALACE

Confidential

A one-of-a-kind architectural gem in Lisbon

The property

Summary

The Palácio do Grilo is a building complex located on a plot of 11,800 m² in Lisbon’s Beato district.

The property currently comprises 6,044 m² of built area, with the possibility of an additional 3,100 m² extension.

IIt also features an extensive garden and outdoor area — a rare oasis in the heart of Lisbon.

The project may be developed as a large-scale hotel and food and beverage (F&B) operation, or as a mixed-use development combining residential, hotel, and commercial functions.

HISTORICAL HERITAGE

XVIIIth-century unique ducal Palace, part of the historical heritage of the Portuguese Royal Family

NEW FRONTIER OF THE CITY

The emerging digital hub of Lisbon, offering significant potential for property value growth.

ONE OF THE LARGEST PRIVATE ESTATES IN LISBON

  • Global area: 11,820 m2

  • Built area: 6,044m2

  • Garden and outside: 7,842 m2

  • Potential built area: 3,055 m2

History

The Palácio do Grilo, also known as the “Cricket Palace,” is a unique example of a private palace that has been preserved in almost its original state. Conceived in the 18th century by Dom Pedro de Bragança, the first Duke of Lafões (1718–1761), it was imagined not as a seat of power but as a kingdom dedicated to dreams, intimacy, and imagination.

A visionary aristocrat, intellectual, and Minister of Justice, Dom Pedro played a decisive role in Lisbon’s reconstruction after the 1755 earthquake and rivaled the influence of the ambitious Marquis of Pombal.

At the same time, he sought to build a private universe, designing a palace where each room and garden would reflect wonder, philosophy, and the poetry of existence. He became known as “the builder of dreams” and “the stone dreamer.”

Destined at one point to marry Queen Maria I, he was forced to renounce the union due to his illegitimate birth, yielding her hand to King Pedro III. This unfulfilled destiny reinforced the personal and intimate nature of his project, which he filled with allegories of love, nature, and spiritual devotion.