“Many members of the staff were born here,” says Renata Neves, assistant manager, which is a little disconcerting until you know the full story. Until 1997, the building, which has been a pousada since 2009, was home to São Teotónio hospital, which belonged to the charitable organisation, Santa Casa da Misericórdia. This explains the presence of the three female stone statues on the façade, representing Faith, Hope and Charity, as well as the institution’s coat of arms.
When it came to repurposing the building, which dates back to the late-19th century, the architect Gonçalo Byrne maintained the most iconic original structures, such as the semicircular exterior staircase, the tiles in the corridors and the stone steps connecting the floors. Saying that, he also combined them with more contemporary features. Costing approximately eight million euros in total, the restoration work was regularly photographed during the different phases and can be found displayed on the pousada’s walls.
The architectural project includes a new fourth floor that, being set further back and in darker colours, is camouflaged and almost goes unnoticed. This ingenious solution boosts the number of overnight stays, while maintaining the original rectangular design.
The rooms are spacious, wood-lined and functional by design. In the common areas, some parts have been completely renovated, such as the restaurant, while others continue to evoke memories of the past, such as the light wood furniture from the hospital laboratory, which is now found in the smoking room.
The pousada restaurant emphasises traditional and local produce, which are used both in classic dishes, like Lafões-style roast veal or Beirão kid, as well as more contemporary fare, such as queijo da serra pudding with cinnamon crumble and lemon sorbet. Boasting a strong wine culture, the Viseu Pousada bar specialises in wine from the Dão region. Tastings can be booked and guests can buy iconic wines from associated producers, both from historic winemakers and more recent, irreverent projects that demonstrate a region reinventing itself with great success.
Essentials
