Once at the outskirts of Lisbon and located at the Monsanto foothills, the “Palácio dos Marqueses de Fronteira e de Alorna”, in Benfica, has been undergoing an extensive restoration process under the Foundation that bears the above name. The construction of this Palace and its magnificent gardens goes back to the XVII-th century third quarter. After the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, the main building XVIII-th century west wing extension was built, when the Marquis and his family permanently settled in Benfica.

About fifteen years ago the author was invited by the late Arch. Prof. Emeritus Frederico George to work on the north loggia restoration and he was wonder-stricken by the master plan based on the drawings of the Italian Renaissance arch. Sebastiano Serlio, and the generous spatial dimensions created more than three hundred years ago.

An increasingly ageing European population, with a long historical tradition, is well aware of the need to maintain its cultural heritage. Current building techniques and special restoration procedures also need to be assessed before being implemented. Under an extensive restoration process, the Palace and its ensemble located at the Monsanto foothills is an important cultural asset that well deserves to be preserved.