Hotel Heritage

Overview

Thanks to the grupo’s investment on historical and traditional houses in the center of Lisbon, maintaining a small number of rooms, these 5 charm hotels bring to memory historical and traditional buildings of Lisbon, from the belle époque hotels in new avenues to the 16th-century palace.

Heritage Hotels bet hardly on the total recovery of national real estate patrimony in the Historical city center, giving special attention to decoration and architectural detail that transform each building unique and an ambassador of a cozy and traditional environment.

History

Heritage Lisbon Hotels history starts in 1931 when António Duarte Martins decided to invest his capital - acquired during his life in Brazil in the beginning of the 20th century – to build an old palace on Avenida da Liberdade to transform it in a hotel. The recovery project given to Architecture Norte Júnior was the start to today’s Tivoli hotels. The Tivoli – Duarte Martins partnership would last until 1941, when the firm Duarte, Cardoso e Machaz, Lda. was created, acquiring the 185 da Avenida da Liberdade building to enlarge the Tivoli hotel. Duarte Martins sold his part in the company on 1944 and opened the Hotel Condestável Lda firm, buying and creating the Condestável Hotel, opened on the April 28, 1954 by António Duarte Martins and Arménio Galvão Fernandes. This hotel explored a concept of modernity and, as architect Lucínio Cruz stated, “promotes its guest a tue well being by simple solutions”. It was one of the first hotels in the city offering in all its 63 bedrooms a private bathroom. Between 1975 and 1978, the company lived difficult moments due to the economical and political reality in the country. Its recovery was only possible with the employees dedication that recognized the company efforts in maintaining the Hotel running normally. At this same time the hotel changed its name to Lisboa Plaza. This effort saw results on the 1990s with the creation of the company named Hoteis Plasa S.A. maintaining Lisboa Plaza and expanding it.

The 90s were decisive to the company’s history with the acquisition of three new buildings: As Janelas Verdes, of the York house on 1994; Solar do Castelo, located in the São Jorge Castle in 1995 and the Britania Hotel in 1996. This acquisition where accomplished by the Cardoso and Alves de sousa families. Finally, in 1998 the Heritage Hotels brand was created with the mission of offering its clients a stay full of the typical Portuguese Hospitality, History and Tradition in small charm hotels – ancient houses and/or Historical buildings – located in the center of Lisbon. In 1999 the recovery of the ancient Palacete das Cozinhas, located in the São Jorge Castle, started and became Solar do Castelo. The last hotel was officially opened on 2007 in the middle of Avenida da Liberdade, in a recovered XVIII building.

Hotels

Opened in 1995, the As Janelas Verdes Hotel is part of an 18th-century palace, next to the National Museum of Ancient Art, one of the most emblematic places in the city. This small charm hotel, which is believed to have been the inspiration for the famous «Ramalhete» from the literary work «Os Maias» written by Eça de Queiroz, who is said to have lived here, revives the XVII through its objects d’art, books and family photos.

The blue façade of the Heritage Av Liberdade stands out in an architectonic unit on the prime artery of the capital, Avenida da Liberdade. Subject to careful rehabilitation, this 18th century building has come back to life by dint of a project of a unique nature. Miguel Câncio Martins' design for the rebuilding is expressed by the diluting of the physical frontiers between the city and the hotel.

The purpose of the rehabilitation was to keep as many original elements as possible: the 18th century facade, the ashlar, the veranda railings, the wooden main door and the shutters with their original ironwork, as well as the Pombaline tiles in the interior, have been subject to detailed restoration. In the exterior, the integrity of the architectonic design was conserved, maintaining the elegant features which characterize the Pombaline style.

Located near Av. Da Liberdade, Hotel Britania is a building full of small details of genuine Art Deco, a project by Cassiano Branco. The glamour of the 1940s is especially visible in the paintings of the Portuguese Overseas Empire that decorate the bar.

Located near Avenida da Liberdade, this hotel is a symbol of family since it was designed to conciliate modern, traditional and family. The reconstruction of the hotel is the work of Graça Viterbo Atelier who maintained the main lines of original building made by Lucinio Cruz.

Solar Do Castelo is the only heritage hotel located inside the walls of São Jorge Castle, in the heart of the one of the most typical areas of Lisbon. This ancient palace from the 17th century, known has the Palacete das cozinhas since it was built in the old kitchen area of Paços da Alcáçova, represents a romantic era and is surroundEd by historical gardens. Rebuilt by Vasco Massapina and decorated by Graça Viterbo Atelier, the Solar do Castelo is dominated by a medieval spirit which includes a museum with numerous items found belonging to the old Palace.