One of the most emblematic buildings of Lisbon's 17th century iconography was the great palace of the Câmara family, also known as the Palace of the Counts of Ribeira Grande. It was located in one of the most important hills of the city, Monte Fragoso, very close to the Franciscan Convent, in an area of strong aristocratic occupation, of which we highlight the former Palace of the Dukes of Bragança and the Palace Corte Real.

The palace had been remodelled according to the will of the third Count of Vila Franca, D. Rodrigo Gonçalves da Câmara. The direction of the works was given to the royal architect Diogo Marques Lucas. The main façade of the building was facing south, i.e. the River Tagus, with its side facing the Terreiro do Paço, which can be seen here from behind the Royal Palace.