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Pousada Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo, Portugal · Pousadas de Portugal · Core Luxury
Domingos José de Moraes, a Viana native who made his fortune in Brazil, commissioned a Beaux-Arts hotel around 1900, hoping the town could rival Biarritz; it crowns Monte de Santa Luzia, 250 metres above the city. Architect Miguel Ventura Terra's project stalled after Moraes died, leaving the shell abandoned by 1903 until Porto investors finished it in 1921 as the Hotel de Santa Luzia. The State nationalised it in 1946, Jorge Segurado remodelled it in the 1950s, and it joined the pousada network in 1979.
- 51 rooms
- Opened 1921
- Neighborhood: Areosa
- Architect: Miguel Ventura Terra; Jorge Segurado
About Pousada Viana do Castelo
- Jorge Segurado, architect of the 1960 Pousada de Sagres, remodelled this hilltop hotel in 1953-1955 after the State nationalised it in 1946.
- The Santuário de Santa Luzia church is a three-minute walk; Praia do Norte beach is 7 km down from Monte de Santa Luzia.
- It entered the Pousadas de Portugal network in 1979, nearly sixty years after opening as the Hotel de Santa Luzia.
History
The Pousada Viana do Castelo crowns the Monte de Santa Luzia, 250 metres above the city of Viana do Castelo in northern Portugal. It began as the Hotel de Santa Luzia, commissioned around 1900-1903 by Domingos José de Moraes - a local who had made his fortune in Brazil - with the aim of turning Viana into a seaside resort to rival Biarritz. Designed in Beaux-Arts style by architect Miguel Ventura Terra, construction began in 1900 but stalled after Moraes's death, leaving the building abandoned by 1903.
A group of Porto investors revived the project in 1918, and the hotel was finally inaugurated in 1921. The State nationalised it in 1946, and a major remodelling by architect Jorge Segurado followed in 1953-1955. The property joined the Pousadas de Portugal network in 1979 and today, managed under the Pousadas de Portugal (Pestana) banner, offers around 51 rooms.
The setting
7 km from beach at Praia do Norte.
Restaurants and bars
- Pousada Viana do Castelo Restaurant — Restaurant · Minho-style regional cuisine
Experiences
- Sanctuary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Santa Luzia) — Majestic monument, one of the region's most iconic symbols, with impressive views over the city and the sea.
- Gil Eannes Museum Ship — Former hospital ship turned museum showing life on board and the naval past of Viana do Castelo.
- Costume Museum — Showcases the region's traditional costumes, including the famous Viana costume.
- Beaches of Cabedelo, Amorosa and Arda — Extensive sandy areas ideal for water sports such as surfing and windsurfing.
- Ponte de Lima Bridge — Bridge spanning the Lima River, with a Roman section and a medieval section.
- Vinho Verde Route — Farms, wineries, restaurants, accommodation and tourism companies offering activities and itineraries.
Amenities
- Spa
- Pool
- Tennis
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