Perched on top of a canyon in Serra da Estrela, with the granite facade and its own waterfall, Casas da Lapa are a mountain postcard but also an inspiring tale of vision and persistence.
The first few rooms opened in 2005 after Nuno Bravo and Maria Manuel renewed, against experts’s advice, a house in ruins that dated from 1832. Due to the influence of a season spent in Italy, “where agrotourism was already highly valued 20 years ago”, the couple wanted to invest in the village where Nuno grew up – Lapa dos Dinheiros, in Guarda – and provide the so-called nature and rest tourism. “We even hired a consultant, who told us not to,” recalls the owner. Relying on their instincts, they decided to ignore the specialist, and time proved that they were right. In a short period of time they grew from the original five bedrooms to eight and, more recently, to they added seven other – totaling 15 now.
The expansion project, completed in June 2020, was signed by architect Jorge Teixeira Dias in a minimalist but welcoming manner, which included a spa, new suites, an indoor and outdoor pool and a library where a small room pays homage to the buracas, a kind of cave that were included the village’s homes to salt the meat or store tools.
The project is based in the merging the traditional with the contemporary which can be seen at the decor and architecture but can also be tasted at the hotel’s restaurant. The tasting menu is highly based on the local products of the region in a fine dining manner. The varied breakfast starts at nine in the morning is kept all day long, given the focal idea to rest.
A wooden sleigh in the living room in front of the fireplace reminds us that the snow is within driving distance. Those who do not want to drive have a walking route to pass right in front of the houses: the Route of Caniça, with moderate difficulty, and that allows an unforgettable view of the natural park.