Longroiva Hotel and Thermal Spa
![The old hillocked town](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bhQkJv23SyLSJYFL9fwtTY-415-80.jpg)
The ancient Romans were mad for their spas, and built thermal retreats all through Europe, invariably in wildly picturesque spots. We daresay they would have approved of Lisbon-based architect Luís Rebelo de Andrade’s work on their steamy outpost in the rocky hamlet of Mêda in north-east Portugal – an area that insiders prize for its varied scenic attractions, bijoux vineyards and incomparable tableau of ancient walled towns, walking trails and, of course, hot springs.
Nudged against the base of the old hillocked town, the 44-room Longroiva is a wonderful contrast of architectural moods, thanks largely to Rebelo de Andrade’s thoughtful masterplan.
The architect’s starting point was the existing three-storey, late-19th-century pile, which had been converted into a thermal spa around 15 years ago. Predictably, the spa had done a steady but unspectacular trade with local families and the blue-rinse set. Happily, the owners, born and bred in the region, saw the potential of a slicker, better designed operation.
To that end, Rebelo de Andrade Slight made gentle architectural interventions to the original building, converting the neo-classical interior with its original stone arches and rough hewn floors into public spaces on the ground floors, and 14 rooms including a suite upstairs.
An enclosed bridge, wrapped around with narrow vertical strips of stained timber and glass, is a seamless and literal link between past and present, leading from the renovated building to the capacious heated outdoor pool.
In turn, this leads to a slender strip of sleekly designed rooms and villas that is strung along further up the side of the hill. Their foundations anchored on an attractive geometric pattern of locally quarried stone and metal struts, these new rooms – stylized cottages, really, in their sleek silhouettes of peaked roofs and generous timber-clad patios feature façades that are swathed in stained timber and inset with traditional Portuguese square tiles whose bronze sheen turn a softly burnished gold at sunset.
The best rooms in the house look out over the native vegetation, vineyards, almond and olive groves, and the bucolic sweep of the Douro river. The interiors, too, are suitably austere, lit with Tom Dixon lamps, dressed in raw silk and handspun cotton sheets, and furnished with locally made furniture and pieces by Arper and Six Inch.
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
The languorous quality of the spa, and its thermal water-based treatments and hot springs are a given; apparently, King João V’s personal doctor raved about the curative powers of the waters. But equally indulgent is executive chef Luis Caneiro’s deft touch with regional produce and affinity for Douro gastronomy – his roast goat with grilled potatoes, and grilled pork doused with Porto and apple purée are certified crowd-pleasers.
For restless guests, local distractions beckon in the form of the Douro National Park, the Quinta Vale d’Aldeia winery, and the mesmerizing prehistoric cave paintings of nearby Foz Coa Park.
A slender strip of sleekly designed rooms and villas are inset with traditional Portuguese square tiles whose bronze sheen turn a softly burnished gold at sunset
The best rooms in the house look out over the native vegetation, vineyards, almond and olive groves, and the bucolic sweep of the Douro river.
The interiors, too, are suitably austere
Lit with Tom Dixon lamps, dressed in raw silk and handspun cotton sheets, and furnished with locally made furniture and pieces by Arper and Six Inch
For restless guests, local distractions beckon in the form of the Douro National Park, the Quinta Vale d’Aldeia winery, and the mesmerizing prehistoric cave paintings of nearby Foz Coa Park
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
Lugar do Rossio, 6430-071
Longroiva
Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.
-
Commune’s sustainable personal care products look ‘quite unlike anything else’
Commune’s Somerset-made products stand out in the sustainable skincare crowd. Madeleine Rothery speaks with the brand’s co-founders Kate Neal and Rémi Paringaux
By Madeleine Rothery Published
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico
By Chadner Navarro Published
-
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland
By Daven Wu Last updated
-
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia
By Dimity Noble Last updated
-
KLoé Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
By Jennifer Choo Last updated
-
Casa Hoyos — San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
By Daven Wu Last updated
-
Littlenap — Hangzhou, China
By Daven Wu Last updated
-
Casa Santa Teresa — Corsica, France
By Daven Wu Last updated
-
K5 — Tokyo, Japan
By Danielle Demetriou Last updated