NECESSIDADES PALACE 



and quiet home than a royal residence. It was, 

 according to tradition, an ancient convent trans- 

 formed into a chateau by King John V in 1750. 

 Its greatest charm was its park, with its fine trees, 

 and its elegant stone vases from which fresh 

 waters flowed, filling the air with coolness, and 

 keeping ever fresh the beautiful parterres of 

 flowers. Formerly stagnant water surrounded 

 these gardens, and the fever germs exhaling from 

 them killed two kings (Jean VI and Pedro V), 

 who contracted fever. This gave rise to the 

 strange fantasy of the " Medicis Poison," an 

 invention of the popular imagination, supposed 

 to be deadly in its effect and to have been poured 

 into the cups of the kings. The palace was 

 sumptuously furnished, and filled with artistic 

 objects, old furniture of great beauty, jewels, an 

 argenterie^ marvellous pieces of orfevren'f, and 

 unique ancient books. These treasures were 

 greatly appreciated by the Due d'Aumale, who 

 occasionally was lodged there. Among other 

 royal guests were the Duke of Edinburgh and 

 the Due de Montpensier. 



