The history of this place began in the 19th century, marked by the Marquess of Valle Flôr and Pestana families. Read on to discover more about the Pestana Palace Lisboa.
An oasis, a monument, a palace in Lisbon: the Pestana Palace Lisboa is all of these things and more. This carefully preserved building, which was transformed into a stunning hotel, has retained the various features that reveal its history and make it a proud member of ‘The Leading Hotels of the World’ and ‘The Leading Hotels of the World Sustainability Leaders’.
Returning to Lisbon after a period in São Tomé in the late-1800s, where he made his fortune from coffee and cocoa plantations, José Luís Constantino Dias found the perfect place to build his very own Versailles in the Portuguese capital’s Alto de Santo Amaro area. So impressed was King Carlos I with Dias’s entrepreneurial spirit that he made him the Marquess of Valle Flôr.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and the palace’s various rooms remain impressive, while having been adapted according to their function. Each with its own theme, the spaces on the first floor are common areas for guests. The Renaissance Room, which is lined with exotic woods and warm tones, is often bathed in the colourful light streaming through the stained-glass windows. This is where the Marquess and his family used to dine.
Close by, two first-floor rooms pay tribute to the French aristocracy: the Louis XV Room ably highlights the French Rococo style, with walls covered in mirrors and frescoes that create optical illusions, while the Louis XVI Room is decorated in the Italian style, in shades of green. In one of the wonderful first-floor rooms we find the Allegro Bar, which offers an informal atmosphere and refined décor. This is a good place for anecdotes, like the one about when Caridade Pestana gave her son a Steinway & Sons piano. The recipient was none other than Dionísio Pestana, chairman and one of the founders of the Pestana Hotel Group.
This urban resort is the starting point for discovering the city of Lisbon and its surroundings.
Have lunch or dinner in one of the restaurants at the Pestana Palace Lisboa and enjoy a unique experience in an elegant and sophisticated setting.
The Steinway & Sons piano by Dionísio Pestana is one of the highlights of the Allegro bar.
The outdoor swimming pool is a true oasis of tranquillity, surrounded by lush gardens.
Elegance and comfort in a room that reflects the history and charm of the Pestana Palace Lisboa.
Still on the same floor, we’re transported back to 19th-century taste in the Japanese Room, replete with oriental details, such as the flowers that decorate the walls or the decorated wooden window openings. This exuberant room is an example of the Marquess of Valle Flôr’s admiration for all things Asian.
Another example of the building’s uniqueness is the old ballroom, now home to the Valle Flôr restaurant, where executive chef Pedro Inglês Marques has fashioned a fine menu. The walls are lavishly decorated with musical instruments and treble clefs, full of gilded features that spark curiosity about the music that has been enjoyed here.
This room has direct access to the gardens, which boast over a thousand exotic species, not forgetting trees classified as national monuments, some of which date back to when the building was constructed. The exterior is the perfect setting for enjoying the warmest days, with an elegant swimming pool that was built from the palace’s old lake.
The outdoor pool is the setting for those exercising in the health club, where the indoor pool invites guests on winter days and where the Magic Spa, with its wellness treatments and massages, can be found.
The hotel rooms are spread over two other buildings, which are linked to the main building by elegant glass walkways. The communion between the more recent buildings and the period architecture is seamless, the green patch of grass and vegetation making the transition smooth, maintaining the sense of an oasis in the heart of the city.
Back in the main building, which was classified as a national monument in 1997, it’s worth visiting the chapel, which was an addition to the original design and symmetrical to the palace entrance. Consecrated by the Vatican, much remains unchanged here: on the altar, the figure of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, to whom the Marquess of Valle-Flôr was devoted; the prayer stools are still the originals from the palace, not to mention the church organ found in perfect condition behind the altar, twenty years after the hotel opened.
Back inside, taking the staircase, we reach the hotel’s royal suites. Before we get any further, there’s a curious story about these steps: at a time when wood exports from São Tomé were banned, the Marquess of Valle-Flôr had a rather clever way of getting the raw material to Lisbon to build the staircase and other parts of the palace. He had boats built with the African wood, which were then dismantled when they reached Portugal and used in the construction.
On the second floor, we finally reach the suites that pay tribute to the Portuguese monarchy’s final days. The marquess’s former rooms now bear the names of the last royal quartet: King Carlos, Queen Amélia, King Luís Filipe and King Manuel. More recent guests include the Kings of Spain, the Princes of Monaco, Mick Jagger, Prince, David Beckham and Madonna, whose photos feature in the palace’s hall of fame, among others.
Nearby, the former stables have been converted into events rooms, retaining the original equestrian decor.
And so, the history of the hotel and the Pestana family intersect with the marks of the founders and their time. There are countless details to be discovered, especially when it comes to the palace’s architecture and decor. Just one last piece of trivia to say farewell: this building was the first private home in Portugal to have a lift installed.
