The parish of São Silvestre, in Coimbra, gained a new charm about seven years ago. It was in 2019 that the 18th-century manor palace opened its doors as a boutique hotel, seeking to intertwine history and heritage with comfort and elegance. “In the décor, we wanted to add a touch of refinement and adopt a more contemporary style to create this atmosphere of royalty in the palace,” explains Marta Mendes, director of Palácio São Silvestre Boutique Hotel, in an interview with idealista/news, admitting that guests look for this hotel to “feel like kings and queens for a day.”
The journey to get there was not easy. The palace had been closed for 18 years before being purchased by the Louro Internacional group in 2018. Although they acquired the property already expanded and prepared to host a hotel unit, they had to “carry out major repairs” to solve problems of dampness and water infiltration, says Marta Mendes. However, they also managed to preserve several architectural elements of the former palace, such as the main façade, the coats of arms, ornate ceilings, chimneys and stone walls. “The João de Ruão suite has a huge jacuzzi, a very beautiful original stone ceiling and décor inspired by the famous architect-sculptor, whom we wanted to honour,” she describes.
“We feel that this luxury tourism is returning, it is very strong”
This history-inspired décor is combined with the leisure and wellness areas of this boutique hotel, which also features an outdoor swimming pool, tennis and padel courts, a children’s playground, a gym and vineyards. “Fortunately, we have had strong demand,” not only from couples and companies, but also from families with children, says Marta Mendes, admitting that the palace can truly be a refuge from mass tourism. “We feel that this luxury tourism is returning, it is very strong. It is a niche that seeks us out and that satisfies us, that recognises the value we add to each experience,” she emphasises.
At the level of the local economy, there is also a clear before and after the palace’s opening. “When this estate was abandoned, people did not come to São Silvestre, because it was a sad, ugly, abandoned place. And at this moment, we believe we have become an added value, that we have added value here to the village of São Silvestre itself, and we all benefit from this,” says the director of Palácio São Silvestre in this interview with idealista/news.
Rehabilitation of former palace
Palácio São Silvestre Boutique Hotel
Credits: Palácio São Silvestre
The Palácio São Silvestre was the residence of noble families in the 18th century. What was its importance in local history?
There was a group of families who lived here, in this noble house, such as the Cabral de Moura e Horta family, the Vilhenas and the Cabrais. In the 18th century, there was nothing else in the surrounding area, meaning there were only agricultural lands. And the owners of most of the agricultural lands were the families who lived in this house. We can consider that there was indeed this monopoly of the economy centred here in São Silvestre.
Until when did the palace belong to those noble families? How and when did the palace end up in the hands of the Louro Internacional Group?
The last resident was indeed Dona Antónia, the famous countess. And when she stopped living here, this space fell into decline. In 2000, the palace was acquired – not by us – and at that time converted into a hotel unit. This space was supposed to have reopened in 2004, but it did not manage to do so. So, the company Louro & Fajardo, which belongs to the Louro Internacional group – of which we are part – acquired this space in 2018 and we managed to reopen the hotel ourselves in 2019, which went very well.
“The hotel was closed for 18 years, without any residents, without any maintenance”
What condition was the palace in when it passed into the group’s hands?
The space was in a state of great disrepair. This expansion for the hotel unit already existed and there was already segmentation between rooms and suites. But there was no furniture or fittings. In addition to all the furnishing, we also carried out many repairs in terms of painting, because the hotel had been closed for 18 years, without any residents, without any maintenance. We also encountered some dampness and water infiltration, meaning we had to carry out major repairs. And also at the level of landscaping.
Rehabilitation of old buildings
The stone wall that connects the noble part, which already existed, and the hotel extension
Credits: Gonçalo Lopes | idealista/news
How did the refurbishment of the hotel go when you acquired it? Which architectural elements have endured over time?
In this case, the hotel managed to retain the main façade. We also have two coats of arms that we were able to preserve, which are part of the entire architecture. We have a wonderful, ornate ceiling that is also part of it. In our João de Ruão suite, where the jacuzzi is located, we still have the stone wall that in the past supported an iron gate that closed an entrance. Therefore, those stones remain and were incorporated into that suite, which worked very well.
We also have the stone wall that connects the noble part, which already existed, and the extension where the new rooms are located. In addition, we preserved an old kitchen, which at the time was the countess’s kitchen, located right next to that wall, which has a small kitchen window. The chimneys already existed as well, having been refurbished while keeping the originals.
We will soon have our chapel available, which also maintains the existing features, such as the altar. It was very good to have been able to make use of these elements that already existed and incorporate them perfectly into this hotel.
“In the décor, we wanted to add a touch of refinement and adopt a more contemporary style to create this atmosphere of royalty in the palace”
The historical and cultural identity of Palácio São Silvestre was also reinforced by the interior décor. In what way?
In the décor, we wanted to add a touch of refinement and adopt a more contemporary style to create this atmosphere of royalty in the palace. And this is the atmosphere that people feel when they come here; it is what they seek – sophistication, and to feel like kings and queens for a day.
Luxury hotel in Coimbra
Jacuzzi in the João de Ruão suite
Credits: Gonçalo Lopes | idealista/news
Is that the luxury accommodation experience you aim to provide to your guests?
We aim to provide a complete experience to everyone who visits us, starting with accommodation. We have various types of rooms and suites that allow for exactly that: from the noble rooms located in the noble wing of the hotel (which already existed) to the ‘Deluxe’ rooms, which have a slightly more modern décor and are located in the new wing.
We also have our suites, where the décor represents different atmospheres and historical stories. For example, we have the Countess suite, where we recreated the countess’s bedroom so that whoever stays there feels like a countess, a queen, a special person for a day. In the Francisco and Antónia suite, the entire décor revolves around this atmosphere, this glamour, this love experienced between the two. The João de Ruão suite is our best suite, featuring a huge jacuzzi, a very beautiful original stone ceiling and décor inspired by the famous architect-sculptor whom we wanted to honour, especially since he is the author of the altarpiece of the Virgin and Child that once existed here. This suite includes in its décor an image of that altarpiece, the original of which is now at the Machado de Castro Museum. All these elements provide a unique experience in terms of accommodation.
“We have a vineyard, which allows for a harvest experience”
Tell us about the leisure and wellness spaces you offer at the palace.
We aim to combine the accommodation experience with gastronomy and wellness. We have our restaurant, “Palativm”, where chef Telmo Jegundo creates dishes that seek to recreate delicacies from the past, but with a new approach and presentation. In addition, we have our ‘Sanvs Clinic’, a wellness, aesthetics and weight-loss clinic equipped with high-tech equipment, where guests can undergo a range of treatments and leave feeling rejuvenated.
In addition, we also have our outdoor swimming pool (for both adults and children), a padel court, a tennis court… We have a vineyard that allows for a harvest experience here, and we carry out the harvest and wine production ourselves. In other words, those who come here can enjoy not only the quality of our service and hospitality, but also all these additional and complementary services, as well as the outdoor spaces.
Luxury hotel with pool in Coimbra
Exterior of Palácio São Silvestre
Credits: Palácio São Silvestre
What still remains to be done at Palácio de São Silvestre? What are you planning for the future?
Naturally, those who have been visiting us since 2019 expect innovations, and that is what we want to offer. We are always looking to improve their experience, to exceed expectations, to surprise. In the immediate future, we will carry out a complete renovation of our ‘Sala do Paço’, where we host all types of events, such as weddings, baptisms, group dinners and also corporate meetings and conferences. This year we also carried out structural works at our ‘Sanvs Clinic’. We will also renovate the restaurant and build our SPA from scratch in the short to medium term.
“In summer we work more with the leisure market and in winter we work more with the corporate market”
How do you assess tourist demand at the palace since its opening? What is the average length of stay? In what price range is the accommodation you offer?
Fortunately, we have had strong demand. In fact, we have not felt much seasonality. In summer we work more with the leisure market and in winter we work more with the corporate market. Fortunately, they complement each other and it has worked very well, allowing us to maintain a very high occupancy rate throughout the year.
At the moment, our average length of stay is 1.7 nights, which means that guests stay between one and two nights. We have prices that meet all needs, whether in high season or low season. Prices start at 60 euros per night, allowing us to attract companies. Then, in high season, rates are somewhat higher, reaching around 150 euros. There is this differentiation depending on the type of market and demand.
Wellness clinic
Wellness clinic at Palácio São Silvestre
Credits: Gonçalo Lopes | idealista/news
Who seeks you out the most in the summer?
In summer, we have a leisure market, sought not only by couples but also by families with children. We are not so-called mass tourism. As we only have 41 rooms, we allow guests to truly rest. We also focus heavily on the family market, since in addition to pools for adults and children, we also have our outdoor playground and an indoor ‘kids club’ in the hotel. This offer helps attract couples with children, who feel comfortable enjoying a peaceful village atmosphere, enjoying their holidays without rush, which is very important. We feel that this is what families are looking for. Therefore, they want to escape a little from the mass tourism experienced in summer and end up coming here. In addition, they can go to the beach, visit Portugal dos Pequenitos, take cultural trips to Coimbra, Montemor-o-Velho, Figueira da Foz… We are very well located, which allows the experience to be complete even during the summer.
“There is a crisis, but not for luxury tourism”
What are the main challenges you would highlight for luxury tourism in Coimbra?
When we started the project in 2019, it was going very well. But then Covid-19 arrived, which ended up shaking the project. Fortunately, we managed to rise again, reinvent ourselves and come back stronger. Although it was a somewhat demanding journey, the work is now beginning to bear significant fruit. We feel that this luxury tourism is returning, it is very strong. It is a niche that seeks us out and that satisfies us, that recognises the value we add to each experience. So, I think it is going very well. In other words, there is a crisis, but not for luxury tourism itself.
Luxury hotel rooms
One of the suites at Palácio São Silvestre
Credits: Gonçalo Lopes | idealista/news
Does the Louro Internacional group have more hotels in Coimbra or in other locations?
The Louro Internacional group brings together a set of companies that are quite distinct in their areas of activity. In addition to the Palácio São Silvestre hotel, the group acquired Quinta da Pintora in Cantanhede in 2023, which opened in 2024 as a fully renovated event venue with capacity for up to 490 people. In addition to hospitality and catering, the group has other business areas, namely Globalkiln, a refractory company with strong presence nationally and internationally. In fact, Louro & Fajardo is the owner of the hotel building, working more in the area of construction, as well as the sale of buildings and houses.
“We believe we have become an added value, that we have added value here to the village of São Silvestre itself”
Is the conversion of former palaces into hotels a trend in Portugal? Why? What advantages does it bring to local economies?
I believe it is indeed a trend, and fortunately so. Otherwise, what would we do with so many spaces that were once inhabited and were so important to the country’s history? Therefore, it is good that this is the case, as rehabilitating these spaces is an opportunity to make them more beautiful. When this estate was abandoned, people did not come to São Silvestre, because it was a sad, ugly, abandoned place. And now, we believe we have become an added value, that we have added value here to the village of São Silvestre itself, and we all benefit from it.
Gym at the hotel