Exterior view
by COSTA E SILVA, José da, Photo
The Teatro de São Carlos in Lisbon signaled the arrival of Neoclassicism as the legitimate architectural style for buildings representing the interests of the middle classes. Court architecture, on the other hand, found it difficult to shake off entirely the influence of Baroque. An example was provided by the laying of the foundation in 1802 for the new Pal�cio da Ajuda, which had been destroyed by fire. The residence was begun from plans by Francisco Xavier Fabri (1761-1807) and Jos� da Costa e Silva. Napoleon’s invasion, however, prevented work from progressing, and it was finished only in 1835.