São Bento Palace was originally a 17th century Benedictine monastery, which following the Liberal Revolution of 1820 and the suppression of religious orders, was converted into a palace for the installation of the Assembly of the Portuguese Republic. The rooms and spaces of the former monastery were remodelled to house the new parliament, but a fire that broke out in 1895 led to further enhancements and repairs, which lasted until the 1940s with the completion of the monumental stairway in front of the portico. Some 5 decades later, in 1994-1997, an annex building was constructed by Fernando Távora, whose vision was to maintain the historical outlook of the complex.