History of the Inn
The Sella Freire Falcão de Mendonça family name on the front of the house is a corollary of the surnames of noble noblemen and wealthy men from the Côa region who, over the centuries, were joined by marriage to the most prominent, relevant and emblematic trunk, which, according to studies, is the Falcões family.
From the Sella Freire Falcão de Mendonça family there have been many figures and personalities who have occupied important places in the history of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and beyond. Of the numerous Falcões mentioned in the documents consulted, we can highlight the following:
ANTONIO LOPES DE CASTILHO FALCÃO DE MENDONÇA - Nobleman of the Royal Household, graduate of the Faculty of Laws; Captain-Major of the towns of Almendra and Castelo Melhor; died in 1759 and was the son of Bernardo Lopes de Castilho, graduate in Laws, Ombudsman of the Royal Household and paymaster general of the Beira troops, and his wife, D. Catarina da Sella Falcão da Costa e Mendonça.
MANUEL ANTONIO DE CASTILHO FALCÃO MENDONÇA - A nobleman of the Royal Household, by succession to his majors; captain of ordinances for the towns of Almendra and Castelo Melhor, he died in 1791, was the son of the aforementioned personage and married D. Maria Magdalena de Costa Falcão. Maria Magdalena de Costa Falcão de Mendonça, his cousin and heiress of the house of Mata de Lobos, the only daughter of José Freire Falcão de Mendonça, a nobleman of the Royal House, judge of the 5th house of the Agravos of the House of Appeal, and executor of the past debts of the Royal Treasury, and his wife and cousin, D. Helena da Costa Falcão de Mendonça.
JOSÉ FREIRE FALCÃO DE MENDONÇA - Born in Castelo Rodrigo, he was Governor of the Bishopric of Pinhel and rector of Vilar Torpim. In 1849, he sent a letter to the Pope conveying the support of all the clergy and people of his diocese for the proclamation, as a dogma of faith, of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. From 1846 to 1857, the illustrious citizen and member of the Falcão family was a Commander of the Order of Christ and Canon of the Patriarchal Church of Lisbon. On March 19, 1855, he published a Pastoral entitled "The Dogmatic Definition of the Immaculate Conception".
From the Sella Freire Falcão de Mendonça family there have been many figures and personalities who have occupied important places in the history of Figueira de Castelo Rodrigo and beyond. Of the numerous Falcões mentioned in the documents consulted, we can highlight the following:
ANTONIO LOPES DE CASTILHO FALCÃO DE MENDONÇA - Nobleman of the Royal Household, graduate of the Faculty of Laws; Captain-Major of the towns of Almendra and Castelo Melhor; died in 1759 and was the son of Bernardo Lopes de Castilho, graduate in Laws, Ombudsman of the Royal Household and paymaster general of the Beira troops, and his wife, D. Catarina da Sella Falcão da Costa e Mendonça.
MANUEL ANTONIO DE CASTILHO FALCÃO MENDONÇA - A nobleman of the Royal Household, by succession to his majors; captain of ordinances for the towns of Almendra and Castelo Melhor, he died in 1791, was the son of the aforementioned personage and married D. Maria Magdalena de Costa Falcão. Maria Magdalena de Costa Falcão de Mendonça, his cousin and heiress of the house of Mata de Lobos, the only daughter of José Freire Falcão de Mendonça, a nobleman of the Royal House, judge of the 5th house of the Agravos of the House of Appeal, and executor of the past debts of the Royal Treasury, and his wife and cousin, D. Helena da Costa Falcão de Mendonça.
JOSÉ FREIRE FALCÃO DE MENDONÇA - Born in Castelo Rodrigo, he was Governor of the Bishopric of Pinhel and rector of Vilar Torpim. In 1849, he sent a letter to the Pope conveying the support of all the clergy and people of his diocese for the proclamation, as a dogma of faith, of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary. From 1846 to 1857, the illustrious citizen and member of the Falcão family was a Commander of the Order of Christ and Canon of the Patriarchal Church of Lisbon. On March 19, 1855, he published a Pastoral entitled "The Dogmatic Definition of the Immaculate Conception".