Parques de Sintra working on the Tiled Canal of the National Palace of Queluz

As part of the project to restore the Tiled Canal in the gardens of the National Palace of Queluz, which is due to start in late 2025, early 2026, maintenance work is underway to safeguard the tile covering of this important element of the historic gardens of Queluz. Including inspections and daily monitoring, the main aim of this work is to contain the the tiles’ current state of degradation. Cleaning work is being carried out to remove parasitic vegetation and, in cases where there is a risk of loss, the tiles in question are being removed and packaged until they can be replaced.

The vases that decorate the Tiled Canal also form part of the general maintenance plan, including their characterisation, particularly in terms of identifying their provenance and analysing their state of conservation.

In order to define the most appropriate intervention methodology for the project to restore the tile coverings, two pilot sections will be carried out to assess and monitor the different approaches and materials to be used in the volumetric and colour reintegration of the tile panels. These tests will make it possible to choose the solutions that best guarantee the recovery, safeguarding and valorisation of this cultural and artistic heritage.

The Tiled Canal, through which runs the Jamor River, runs for an extent of 115 metres and spans the gardens of Queluz from north to south. In line with the playful nature of the space, this feature of the Palace was once part of the Casa do Lago, also known as the Chinese House or the House of Music.

On summer afternoons, this pavilion would be where the Queen’s chamber musicians would play while the Royal Family and the court would take boat trips over the tranquil waters (contained by a system of sluice gates), appreciating the fantastic landscapes depicted in the large tile panels, designed based on engravings of various different sea ports and landscapes.