Palace Hotel do Bussaco
Palácio Hotel do Bussaco, located in Luso, Mealhada municipality, is a Manueline-inspired building built on a project by the Italian architect Luigi Manini, set designer of the São Carlos National Theater in Lisbon and responsible, among others, for Quinta da Regaleira of Sintra.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
The building was built between 1888, the year of the project's approval, and 1907, when the concession was granted for its operation for a period of 19 years, by contract, to Paul Bergamin and represents the last legacy of the Portuguese monarchy.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
Palace Hotel do Bussaco is made up of a unique architectural, botanical and landscaping complex in Europe and has already earned a reputation that makes it one of the most beautiful and historic hotels in the world today.
As a result of this important architectural and historical wealth, the Portuguese State, recognizing its patrimonial value, classified it in 1996 as a Property of Public Interest.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
As with other Manini projects, Palace Hotel do Bussaco exhibits a number of architectural elements designed to evoke Portugal and symbolism around the empire.
In the case of Bussaco are visible profiles of the Tower of Belém, motifs of the Jerónimos Monastery and arabesques of the Convent of Christ of Tomar that, besides their strong symbolic load, have the function of contrasting the austere monastic personality that surrounds the complex as a whole.
Inside is a true palatial atmosphere, enhanced by the presence of a remarkable array of works of art from the hands of the great Portuguese masters of the time.
Among others, there are the tiles painted by master Jorge Colaço, the sculptures of António Gonçalves and Costa Motta Sobrinho, the paintings of João Vaz, the frescoes of António Ramalho and the paintings of Carlos Reis.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
The furniture, which is a true museum collection, is of admirable richness and beauty and includes Portuguese, Chinese and Indo-Portuguese pieces that are accompanied in their sumptuousness by an important set of splendid tapestries.
Another of Palácio Hotel's treasures lies in its surrounding space, more specifically in the fact that it is located in the middle of the Bussaco National Forest, a place often described as magical and full of symbolic and sacred elements.
Along the forest paths we find the largest heritage built by the Order of Discalced Carmelites in Portugal.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
The Convent of Santa Cruz do Bussaco, the Monacal Desert, the Sacromonte with the footsteps of the Via Sacra and the numerous hermitages and chapels blatantly invite the visitor to a meeting with the sacred and the spiritual, while the Valley of the Fetuses and their lakes , the Romanesque viewpoints and the Cold Fountain with its artificial waterfall are the perfect excuse for a close encounter with nature.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
Today Palace Hotel do Bussaco is a 5-star hotel unit that is among the most luxurious in the country, able to offer its guests the unique experience of staying in a true palace and surrounded by all that it means.
Palace Hotel do Bussaco
