Castelo do Rei do Lixo, Coina, Portugal. 2008

Francisco Santos (xu…, on December 31, 2008, said:

Ruins of the Castle of the King of Garbage; it is also known by other names that translate as: Palace of Coina, Estate of Hell, Estate of St Vincent, Tower of Coina, Palace of the King of Garbage. This outstanding ruined landmark of Coina, municipality of Barreiro, Southern Portugal, hides the extraordinary story of the King of Garbage. Manuel Martins Gomes Júnior was born in 1860 in a humble family. He became a self-made man, through several means and businesses. Among his most successful business was the Lisbon waste collection, hence his nickname (today he would be King of Recycling). Manuel Gomes Júnior bought the estate and built here the palace after 1910. Nobody knows why he built the palace; some suspected of a new headquarters for the Freemasonry, as he was a Mason himself. He died mysteriously in 1943 and not him nor anybody ever resided in the palace. In 1972 the Castle of the King of Garbage was bought by António Xavier de Lima, perhaps the biggest real estate developer in Portugal, but he did nothing there. In 1988 the palace suffered a big fire and the degradation continued until now. People in the area suspect that the interests of the real estate developers don't include the preservation of this extraordinary building. And the public authorities can't do or don't want to do anything. A shame.

picsonthemove, on January 10, 2009, said:

Interesting story and good picture

Voted

Ciao

picsonthemove

americatramp, on January 19, 2009, said:

Very interesting photo,...VOTED

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GenaD610, on September 5, said:

Obrigada por a explicacao - tive in Portugal em Agosto, e ficei com curiosidade sobre este interessante "palacio/ castelo".