Portobay Hotels & Resorts has opened PortoBay Flores in Portugal, mixing an historic mansion with new construction to produce a luxury hotel.
The property, situated on Rua das Flores in Porto's historical center, has 66 rooms, spa and indoor pool, gym, restaurant, bar with street terrace, garden courtyard, rooms with views over the city, and a meeting space.
This is the group's second hotel in Porto, following the acquisition of the 4-star Hotel Teatro, now the PortoBay Hotel Teatro, this past December
The new luxury hotel in Porto fuses classic and contemporary elements, combining a 16th century mansion and a hotel built from scratch. The challenge for architect Samuel Torres de Carvalho was to preserve and integrate the original elements of the 500-year-old small palace’s layout to retain its identity, uniting the historic wing with the new building. The façade retains the large wooden doors, the large windows surmounted by triangular pediments, wrought iron balconies and stonework emblazoned with a 16th century coat of arms.
Inside, the old stables make way for the hotel entrance. The floor and staircase were restored and the original granite slabs remain. Other elements of the period include the tiles, windows, original stone decorative motifs and an old kitchen oven that provides a link from the mansion building to the hotel's new wing.
Between the new wing and the small palace, there is a courtyard paved with granite slabs, containing a small baroque chapel dating back to the period when the property was renovated in the mid-18th century. It was designed by Italian artist Nicolau Nasoni, responsible for several of the iconic buildings in the city of Porto, including the Clérigos Tower and the Misericórdia Church, right next to the PortoBay Flores hotel.
The hotel has 55 rooms in the new building and 11 in the historic mansion. There are seven room types available. From the upper floors, the windows and balconies reveal views of the restored houses, including Porto Cathedral, which extends down to the Douro River.
For dining, the property has the Bistrô Flores restaurant. At the hotel entrance, the Bar dos Maias has a terrace and direct access to Rua das Flores. The name pays tribute to the Maia family, the last to inhabit the mansion.
The Mandalay Spa at the PortoBay Flores Hotel has three treatment rooms, sauna, hammam and gym. The relaxation area connects to the heated indoor pool.
Photo credit: Portobay Hotels & Resorts