Arroios
Palácio Camarido – FNAT headquarters
In 1946 this former palace on Calçada de Santana became the headquarters of the FNAT, the National Foundation for Joy at Work, through which the corporative State filled workers’ free time. It is still the headquarters of the INATEL Foundation, which succeeded it.
History
The National Foundation for Joy at Work (FNAT) was created on 13 June 1935 to promote “the use of the free time of Portuguese workers” and to ensure them “the greatest physical development and the raising of their intellectual and moral level”.1 It was born as a part of the corporative organisation of the Estado Novo (“New State”): the decree said that it was not enough “to facilitate the semi-official functions of the National Syndicates and the Casas do Povo”, and the FNAT’s beneficiaries had to be members of a national syndicate, a Casa do Povo (People’s House) or a Casa de Pescadores (Fishermen’s House).12
In 1946 the FNAT set up its headquarters in this former Palácio Camarido, from the 19th century.3 It organised excursions — the first, in September 1935, was for members of the national syndicates of the Lisbon district, on the second anniversary of the National Labour Statute — holiday camps such as the one at Caparica, opened in 1938, sport and shows. In 1959 it inaugurated its stadium, in Alvalade, and in 1962 it bought the Teatro da Trindade.23
On May Day (1 May) 1974, the FNAT stadium was renamed Estádio 1.º de Maio (May Day Stadium).4 On 3 April 1975 the FNAT became INATEL, the National Institute for the Use of Workers’ Free Time, and in 2008 it gave way to the INATEL Foundation; the palace has always been its headquarters.23
Where
Map showing where Palácio Camarido – FNAT headquarters is.
Open on the map of Lisbon Walk there
Nearby
São José Hospital
110 m · 2 min on foot
Coliseu dos Recreios
160 m · 2 min on foot
D. Maria II National Theatre
310 m · 5 min on foot
Dates
Videos
The INATEL Foundation tells its own history in seven minutes, from the creation of the FNAT (National Foundation for Joy at Work) in 1935 — inspired, the film says, by the Italian Dopolavoro — to 2019, with archive footage, some of it from RTP. The palace on Calçada de Santana was the FNAT’s headquarters from 1946 and is now the foundation’s.
Original page Licença padrão do YouTube — embed permitido pelo canal oficial da Fundação INATEL
Fundação INATEL, on YouTube. The player only connects to that site when you press “Watch”.
Notes on the sources1
- The palace’s street number: the INATEL Foundation today gives its headquarters as Calçada de Santana, 180, and says it is the same building in which the FNAT set up in 1946; the point on the map is that of no. 164, on the same street.
Do you know more, or do you have a document? Tell us.
Sources4
- 1Decreto-Lei n.º 25 495, de 13 de junho de 1935 (Diário do Governo, I série, n.º 134): cria a Fundação Nacional para a Alegria no Trabalho. Diário do Governo (Imprensa Nacional), no Diário da República Eletrónico, 1935 — consulted on 3 October 2026
- 2História (da FNAT à Fundação INATEL). Fundação INATEL — consulted on 3 October 2026
- 3Edifício-Sede da Fundação INATEL (Património — outras instalações). Fundação INATEL — consulted on 3 October 2026
- 4Operação Viragem Histórica. Comissão Comemorativa 50 Anos 25 de Abril — consulted on 2 October 2026
Coordinates: OpenStreetMap (nó 6187656289, Calçada de Santana, 164): o n.º 180 não está identificado no mapa, e o ponto é o da porta numerada mais próxima, na mesma calçada; consultado a 3 de outubro de 2026.