From Santo Antão College to Alto de São João: territory, construction and materials of Quinta of Xabregas (18th century)

Abstract

The remaining heritage from the first period of the Society of Jesus in Portugal is composed of colleges, novitiates, professed houses, residences and recreational farms, among other types of houses, but there are gaps in terms of studies regarding its construction processes and the materials used in its buildings.
The study of the recreation farms in particular, is usually listed and analysed as satellite properties belonging to colleges, since specific studies of their implantation and construction as independent properties are still rare even nowadays.
Our research aims, through the analysis of a case study, that of the farm of Xabregas, assigned to the administration of the Santo Antão-o-Novo College in Lisbon, to enlarge the knowledge available of its implantation in the environing landscape. It also seeks to show the constructive and material aspects of a building little studied by Jesuit historiography, and to contribute to the history of the construction of Santo Antão College.