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Casa Tait

Coordinates: 41°8′52″N 8°37′43″W / 41.14778°N 8.62861°W / 41.14778; -8.62861
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Tait House
Casa Tait
Map
General information
TypeResidence
LocationLordelo do Ouro e Massarelos
CountryPortugal
Coordinates41°8′52″N 8°37′43″W / 41.14778°N 8.62861°W / 41.14778; -8.62861
Opened18th century
OwnerCâmara Municipal do Porto

The Tait House (Portuguese: Casa Tait) is a former 18th century residence in the civil parish of Lordelo do Ouro e Massarelos, in the municipality of Porto, in northern Portugal. Today it hosts the programming department (Núcleo de Programação) of Porto's museum.[1]

History

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Throughout the 19th century it had been the formal residence for various and alternate families.[2]

On 22 April 1900, it was acquired by William Tait, a rich merchant connected to the commerce of the wine industry in Porto, but student of flora and fauna, who introduced various plants to Portugal.[2] In 1924, he authored The Birds of Portugal, published in London.[2]

Muriel Tait, who succeeded William Tait, sold the estate to the Câmara Municipal do Porto, with objective of transforming the site into a public greenspace.[2]

Between 1988 and 2008, the building housed the Numismatics Cabinet, before it moved to Palacete of the Visconts of Balsemão.[3][citation needed]

Architecture

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The site is located in an isolate position, protected by high walls, overlooking the Douro River, with privileged views of the landscape.[2] From Tait's original interest in horticulture and flora, the Tait Gardens that include the classified Liriodendrum tulipifera, in addition to a rich collections of camellias and roses.

Opposite the building is the Quinta da Macieirinha (that serves as the Romantic Museum of Porto) and the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace).[2]

References

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  1. ^ "Sobre". Museu da Cidade Porto. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Filipe, Ana (2014), SIPA (ed.), Casa Tait/Quinta do Meio/Museu de Numismática (IPA.00035057) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA – Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico, retrieved 16 April 2017
  3. ^ "Gabinete do Tempo inaugura "Do Medalheiro Allen ao Gabinete de Numismática"". Museu do Porto (in European Portuguese). 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2024-12-20.