portugal Archives - Pinch of Chic

creative direction, photography & editing CYNTHIA NGUYEN

OVERVIEW

Casa dell’Arte Club House is a family-run hybrid rental property: a home, a hotel and an art gallery— featuring beautiful Portuguese interior, history and contemporary art. Within the centre of old town Alfama, this property that holds an elegant persona lives to offer the most authentic Portuguese experience and stay. The building dates back to 1860 and has been debated as Lisbon’s most beautiful tiled building, found by the National Pantheon.

The signature blue and yellow ornate tiles, also known as ‘Azulejo’, paired with romantic, black Juliet balconies, make up the exterior of the Baroque inspired property called Casa dell’Arte Club House— where every corner of the space is a home to one of the most unique, contemporary art pieces. Like no other rental listing, this property aims to be a comfortable yet creative stay, a hybrid between a home and an art gallery.

At Casa dell’Arte Club House, there is an overwhelming amount of detail and elegance throughout the property. Much attention can be spent on the decor, the selection of art pieces, as well as the restoration of the property itself, where you can witness true Portuguese architectural and interior. The walls of the home display beautiful, blue and white, ornately illustrated Azulejo (tiles) paired with gold accent furniture for a luxurious and regal Portuguese interior look and feel. The rooms are spacious and well-equipped, especially the bathrooms. The bathrooms on their own look as if it was an image taken straight out of Architect Digest. If you are comfortable enough or have rented all three suits, you may open up the double doors of each suit to feel more like an open home as oppose to a hotel, which is quite fitting for a family stay.

ROOMS

The property offers 3 romantic and tastefully furnished suites: The Terrace Suite, The Pantheon Suite, and The Sao Vicente Suite.

Featured room is their Sao Vicente Suite and Terrace Suite.

HIGHLIGHTS

Guests are able to enjoy the communal living room, stunning dining room donned with an elaborate chandelier, and kitchen where you can inhale both delicious Portuguese food and even more Azulejo beauty. The kitchen is open for you to be able to store your own food in the fridge or use their appliances and utensils to prepare your own meals (tea, coffee and fruits are provided)— just as they would at home. A breakfast buffet is also available at the property to enjoy during mornings before you head out to explore Alfama and Lisbon. You can spend your time in the space while having your beverage and observing the contemporary artwork that dawns on the walls and corners of the property— imagine as though you’ve obtained your very own private collection for your gallery. One can view pieces that range from Turkish to international art, with such a variety of pieces, you’ll be able to view all the different techniques and cultures all under one roof. The art collection throughout the Casa dell’Arte Club House will change each year and a new selection of artworks will be displayed. You can chat with the gallery curator in the main level if you have any art inquires.

GOOD TO KNOW

At Casa dell’Arte Club House’s doorstep, you will find “Feira da Ladra” also known as the ‘thieves market’, which has said to be the market where thieves would sell their stolen goods back in the day, which is open every Tuesday and Saturday. Monastery of “Sao Vicente de Fora”: 17th Century church and monastery. The National Pantheon: This is the old St. Engracia church.

Alfama Neighbourhood: The oldest Moorish quarter in Lisbon which predates the earthquake of 1755. Alfama is a maze of narrow streets with wonderful restaurants and bakeries filled with Pastéis de Nata, fado (1820’s Portuguese music) and the famous viewpoints (miradouro) Portas do Sol. Grab a stunning seafood dish at Cais da Pedra, which is a 12-minute walk. São Jorge Castle: Moorish castle occupying a commanding hilltop overlooking the historic center of the Portuguese city of Lisbon and Tagus River. City center: In order to get to the commercial city center (Baixa) you can either take a 15-minute walk or board one of the picturesque old Lisbon trams.

The property is also near a metro station, Lisbon’s Cathedral, Rossio Square, and Lisbon’s Oceanarium.

LOCATION

Campo de Santa Clara 125, 1100-473 Lisboa, Portugal

RATES

The Terrace Suite at $440 / The Pantheon Suite at $390 / The Sao Vicente Suite at $285 (prices are in Canadian dollars)

BOOKING

For information or booking, visit their website and Instagram

A special thank you to the property for hosting me during my visit.

As always, all opinions are my own.

creative direction, photography & editing
CYNTHIA NGUYEN

OVERVIEW

Across the river, set in old town Alfama, Santa Clara 1728 is the ideal retreat to relax and escape into the beautiful world of Silent Living— illustrated with soft minimalism, contemporary details, and wholesome intentions. This property does not present itself as just any hotel, far from commercial, but instead a peaceful home where you are able to connect with yourself and with the moments made within the tranquil space.

It was discussed that the owner of Santa Clara 1728, João Rodrigues, preferred that this charming property would be a place for close friends and family— where word of mouth and organic stories are favoured over commercial content and social media exposure when it came to sharing the existence of property. There are no televisions or fancy electronics. A stroll through the space can remove you from where you thought you originally were, while bringing instant and complete comfort through its bare essentials, which helps preserve the sense of intimacy within the space. This property was a sanctuary that left me to dwell in the vast space, with only my conscious thoughts and to wonder about the history that the building embodied. Inside, its original 18th century architectural heritage is maintained through its elegant arches and delicate decor. The romantic structure resides in the old cultural quarter of Alfama, which is also the oldest district in Lisbon.

The renovation of the 18th century property was carried out by Manuel Aires Mateus.

ROOMS

The property offers 6 suites, consisting of two different types of rooms:

The Suite Santa Clara: at approximately 70 square meters, comprising of a very large room with river views on one side, a wide sitting room and a bathroom overlooking the garden on the other.

The Suite Tejo: at approximately 50 square meters, includes a very large room with river views, a sitting area, and a bathroom.

Featured room is their Santa Clara Suite.

HIGHLIGHTS

Held together by a majestic hallway, Santa Clara 1728 honours more than just presenting itself as home to host their guests. The thoughtful intents within the historical walls are to house and project a sense of time, family, silence, purity and higher quality of life to be lived. It is easy to be embraced by beauty, but to feel encouraged to express calmness and to reflect through a space is genuinely beyond me. Talk about thought-provoking…

One of the property’s form of intimate self expression is through Ceia Table, a family feast gathering concept that invites families, friends and strangers to one table to share their stories. The dining experience is comprised of 14 orchestrated moments and each day, the menu is carefully curated to feature the best seasonal ingredients— from the local farms, lands and sea of Portugal. There is no better way to remember a warm memory than through a sense of taste, accompanied by good company.

Ceia Table is open from Wednesday to Saturday, only during the evening. Booking in advance online is recommended. You are able to hold a table that includes a party of up to 4 guests. You will be sharing a table that holds 14 guests. Special thank you to Head Chef Pedro Pena Bastos for giving me a tour of the dining room and humble culinary space.

GOOD TO KNOW

At Santa Clara 1728’s doorstep, you will find “Feira da Ladra” also known as the ‘thieves market’, which has said to be the market where thieves would sell their stolen goods back in the day, which is open every Tuesday and Saturday. Monastery of “Sao Vicente de Fora”: 17th Century church and monastery. The National Pantheon: This is the old St. Engracia church.

Alfama Neighbourhood: The oldest Moorish quarter in Lisbon which predates the earthquake of 1755. Alfama is a maze of narrow streets with wonderful restaurants and bakeries filled with Pastéis de Nata, fado (1820’s Portuguese music) and the famous viewpoints (miradouro) Portas do Sol. Grab a stunning seafood dish at Cais da Pedra, which is a 12-minute walk. São Jorge Castle: Moorish castle occupying a commanding hilltop overlooking the historic center of the Portuguese city of Lisbon and Tagus River.

City center: In order to get to the commercial city center (Baixa) you can either take a 15-minute walk or board one of the picturesque old Lisbon trams.