A TASTE AND THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE
For the first time in over three centuries, this unique palace has reopened. The staff of this extraordinary establishment are true actors, delivering genuine performances that unfold throughout the meal. It's a living theater where you can dine, lunch, have a drink, and stroll through the salons and gardens.
Normally, we travel to the theater, but in this enchanting setting, the actors come to us . Part of the company even lives in the palace. The choreography and shows —staged by the French visual artist Olivier Urman—that unfold with each course are whimsical, almost surreal, with a touch of humor: we might see a man with a plastic arm, a woman in a bowl of water, or two protagonists fighting in boxing gloves inside a giant plastic bag. The theatricality, the colorful dishes, and the classicism of the setting collide and intertwine for an explosive and astonishing result. Enjoy a strawberry margarita or a cosmopolitan with a colorful menu : 27-month aged Iberian ham as an aperitif, gazpacho as a starter, fresh swordfish as a main course, and an assortment of homemade sorbets for dessert—it's easy to get swept away. A Portuguese wine list is also available for those wishing to explore other flavors.
The magical setting that houses this dreamlike place was conceived and designed by Dom Pedro, the first Duke of Lafões, a distant member of the Portuguese royal family (1718-1761). Nestled on the banks of the Tagus River in Portugal, it transports us to a parallel universe dedicated to dreams. The interior is spectacular and richly decorated: for example, one can admire sets of murals by Cirilo Volkmar Machado , as well as 18th- and 19th - century tiles , which are incorporated into the palace's themed rooms, such as the Academy Room, the Venus Room, and the Chinese Room. The rectangular chapel houses a gilded wooden altarpiece dating from the second half of the 18th century . This grand project aimed to transform the dukes' small summer farm into their permanent residence. Visitors journey through a dreamlike world filled with " strange and surprising rooms " that seem to be stages in a fantastical and initiatory voyage. This poetic place resembles a philosophical tale where the visitor embarks on a quest for signs that lead them to the end of their dreams, much like the shepherd in Paulo Coelho's novel *The Alchemist* .
The story goes that around 1750, when Dom Pedro de Braganza conceived the Palacio do Grilo, he was one of the leading figures of the state. Minister of Justice and illegitimate grandson of King Pedro II, the first Duke of Lafões, he was a rival of the already very influential and ambitious Marquis of Pombal. Dom Pedro was to marry Maria I , but as an illegitimate descendant, his destiny took a different turn. The beautiful Maria married the future King Pedro III, and he commissioned the construction of the dream palace. Legend has it that on the evening of their wedding, in the Palacio Dom Pedro, as the wedding carriage passed by, he had all the candles extinguished and placed a small cage containing a cricket nearby, a symbol of kindness and the spirit. From that day forward, Dom Pedro dedicated his talents to his dreamlike kingdom. He drew up his own plans, using the first letter of his title to give the main building an L shape, and hired the most prominent artists of his time to create a haven of peace. Lord Dom Pedro de Braganza, Duke of Lafões, known as "do Grilo," collected the small singing insects that gave him his nickname – "of the Cricket" – and amused himself by cultivating them in his gardens. He never saw the palace completed, as he died prematurely at the age of 49. He wanted "every room at Grilo, in both its decor and function, to be designed for us, to allow us to languish and dream better than anywhere else on Earth ." He made it his home, a palace of dreams intended for his friends, his loves, and his reveries.
Grilo Palace
1 Calçada do Duque de Lafões,
Lisbon
palaciogrilo.com/fr
