MERAKI Hotels & Fine Dining
MONTEBELO VISTA ALEGRE The elegance of cultural identity Visual Stories by Carla Branco | Story #10
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NTEBELO VISTA ALEGRE
egance of cultural identity
Vista Alegre, located in Ă?lhavo, Aveiro, is one of the most surprising and hotels that I have had the pleasure of visiting in the last few months. It is for its history, rich for the gastronomy, distinguished by the attentive and unique in the world because it hosts the heritage of one of the most igious Portuguese brands, Vista Alegre Atlantis. To know it is also to know a f history and a trace of art that remains current after almost 200 years.
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The Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel is a five star with everything we can imagine, integrated in the Montebelo Hotels & Resorts chain, present in Portugal and Mozambique. Opened in 2015, it enjoys a privileged location - we are just a few kilometers from the Costa Nova beaches in Aveiro and just under an hour from the city of Porto. Elegance and quality are permanent symbols that integrate the history, art and culture of this region. The Boco River and the Ria de Aveiro are our “companions” throughout our stay and provide us with moments of pure tranquility and contemplation. Everything around us "breathes" an exclusive personalized design, which conveys comfort and safety and a very special attention to service, and it is these small details that make all the difference. There are many aspects that attract me in this hotel, but the fact that it represents history and has a direct connection with Vista Alegre makes it unique in the world because from the moment we know the history of this prestigious brand and its visionary founder, José Ferreira Pinto Basto, nobleman of the Portuguese Royal House, we will never look at Vista Alegre the same way again, leaving us with a huge feeling of admiration.
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And it was precisely in the Pinto Basto family suite that I had the pleasure of knowing during my stay. The suite, of generous size and seductive atmosphere, is located in the Founders' Palace and has an unexpected and privileged surprise - a direct and exclusive access to the stunning Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Penha de França, patron saint of Vista Alegre. The chapel, now a National Monument, was built by D. Manuel de Moura Manoel in the 17th century and is part of the architectural ensemble of Vista Alegre factory, having been acquired in 1816 by JosÊ Ferreira Pinto Basto. In total there are 95 rooms with an individualized atmosphere divided between the new wing of the hotel, the aforementioned Founders' Palace and the Master Painters Palace. The third floor has a Master Suite, which dazzles not only for the river view, but also for its dimension of 155 square meters, decorated with unique pieces of porcelain and crystal and hand-painted crockery.
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E foi precisamente na suite da família Pinto Basto que tive o prazer de ficar instalada durante a minha estadia. A suite, de generosa dimensão e ambiente sedutor, fica localizada no Palácio dos Fundadores e conta com uma surpresa inesperada e privilegiada - um acesso directo e exclusivo para a deslumbrante Capela de Nossa Senhora da Penha de França, padroeira da Vista Alegre. A capela, actual Monumento Nacional, foi mandada edificar por D. Manuel de Moura Manoel no séc. XVII e está inserida no conjunto arquitectónico da Fábrica da Vista Alegre, tendo sido adquirida em 1816 por José Ferreira Pinto Basto. No total são 95 quartos com uma atmosfera individualizada e estão divididos entre a ala nova do hotel, o já referido Palácio dos Fundadores e o Palácio dos Mestres Pintores. O terceiro piso conta com uma Suite Master, que deslumbra não só pela vista de rio, mas também pela sua dimensão de 155 metros quadrados, decorada com peças únicas de porcelana e de cristal e loiças pintadas à mão.
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António Machado Matos, director of the hotel, explains that all the rooms have different elements and with a unique decoration, different pieces of porcelain, which provides a great offer diversity to the guests. Each hotel floor has been decorated according to the various stages of porcelain, from molds to painting, and all the pieces on display can be purchased by the guests, just like an art gallery. The walls are also hand painted, with fauna, flora and sea motifs, executed by the Vista Alegre manufacturing team. But there is yet another element that piques our curiosity and is clearly visible in the interior and exterior spaces - the ruins discovered during the excavations for the construction of the hotel, from the 17th century, and wisely integrated into the lobby decoration, as well as the Carrapichel fountain, built in 1696, and whose waters would have healing properties. It was said that whoever drank from its waters would have a happy view (Vista Alegre), and thus the name that gave birth to the farm and later to the porcelain factory that we know today.
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Vista Alegre Museum We are facing approximately 200 years of history! Founded in 1824, the Vista Alegre Porcelain Factory is internationally recognized for its quality and encompasses a unique heritage and industrial complex, where we can visit, besides the Museum, the Factory’s Manual Painting Workshop, the Chapel, the Shops and the Workers Neighborhood. António Machado Matos, director of the hotel and a connaisseur of local history, was our guide during the pleasant visit to the hotel and the museum and explained the whole concept behind this vast heritage. Right at the entrance, two imposing ovens are the starting point for a collection that stretches over decades through an exhibition circuit. Christian Lacroix, Almada Negreiros, à lvaro Siza Vieira, Amadeu de Sousa Cardoso, Sam Baron or Carsten Gollnick are some of the artists and designers who worked with Vista Alegre. We are facing one of the most complete museum collections of its kind with more than thirty thousand pieces! Here we learn about the history of the factory, the aesthetic evolution of porcelain production and its importance in Portuguese society in the 19th and 20th centuries. The building of the former Vista Alegre daycare center, dated 1944, was converted into an educational extension of the Vista Alegre Museum. Currently, it promotes a rich and diversified cultural program and promotes the connection between the factory and its visitors, creating learning opportunities, namely through ceramic painting or paste modeling. Porcelain painting was one of the activities we had the opportunity to do during our visit, and afterwards we can keep the painted pieces as a unique souvenir! Over the course of an hour, we embarked on a unique journey into the world of porcelain, discovering the secrets, stories, memories and knowledge of generations of workers who left here a charming legacy and a collection of unique objects of incalculable value.
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Montebelo Vista Alegre Restaurant The restaurant at Montebelo Vista Alegre Ílhavo Hotel combines excellent cuisine with the best ingredients that the center region has to offer. Endowed with a strategic location that provides us with a panoramic view over the Boco River and the Ria de Aveiro, here we live unique moments that sharpen our palate by the hand of Chef Rui Rodrigues Ramalhoto. Modern decor is evident throughout the space, with eye-catching pieces by Vista Alegre, evident in the decor but also at the table. The atmosphere is elegant, sophisticated but with a balanced dose of relaxation, which makes us feel comfortable. The entire team is efficient and attentive, friendly guiding us throughout all meals. The restaurant's offer combines the best flavors of Portuguese gastronomy from the central region, shown in the Tasting Menu t h a t C h e f Ru i Ro d r i g u e s Ra m a l h o to prepared.
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The salmon amuse-bouche with roe, reduction of pepper sauce and scale salt, goes perfectly with the sparkling wine from Casa da Ínsua. In turn, the starter was one of my favorite dishes, consisting of a Selection of Shitaki and Pleurotus mushrooms with low temperature egg, smoked salt, dehydrated ham and croutons. It is followed by tiger prawns over a prawn and saffron bisque, with a rich and intense flavor, with cauliflower puree, confit tomato and saffron tile. The Casa da Ínsua 2017 white wine is light and fla vored, linking all ingredients. We continue the tasting with steamed sea bass, asparagus brás, baby broccoli, seaweed crusts, herb oil and dehydrated olives. The interval between the fish and meat dishes is made with a refreshing lemon and lime sorbet scented with mint. It is at this point that we switch to the Casa da Ínsua 2015 red wine, to accompany the 12hour Piglet dish with french fries and baby vegetables, the recreation where the chef was inspired by the typical Bairrada piglet.
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We ended the meal in the best way with two sublime desserts: Pumpkin cream cheese and cinnamon tile garnished with pumpkin custard and pine nuts and Wild fruits Zukotto with chocolate cake base, red fruit mousse wrapped in a thin white chocolate layer drizzled with coulis and fresh red fruits. But in addition to this tempting Tasting Menu, there are several options Ă la carte that make mealtime a moment of keen palate: Prawns with almonds, Tataki Tuna, Sea bass with shrimp, Pork tourney or a fantastic Risotto with prawns and scallops. For all lovers of Portuguese sweets, it is essential to try the Mille Fuille with soft eggs, which is absolutely delicious, but also the Chocolate mousse duo or the Guava Cheesecake. Chef Rui Rodrigues Ramalhoto and the entire restaurant team are to be congratulated for the creativity and careful presentation in all the dishes and their service. The meal ends with a moment of relaxation in the Bar Real FĂĄbrica, next to the restaurant, where the red stones of the old construction of the Vista Alegre factory were preserved. These are moments that make our stays unique.
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Montebelo Vista Alegre Spa The Montebelo Vista Alegre �lhavo Hotel spa is a unique space that welcomes us with specific treatments and makes our stay even more pleasant. Therapist Diana Oliveira takes care of our well-being in a personalized way that makes us feel rejuvenated. The spa is one of the spaces most appreciated by guests and that makes all the dierence when they are well achieved and provides us with real moments of relaxation to relieve all the tensions that we bring from abroad. The space works as a refuge from daily stress and it is here that we find a moment dedicated only to us.
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The Montebelo Vista Alegre spa is distinguished not only by the unique pieces of decoration from Vista Alegre, present throughout the hotel, but also by the special attention that therapist Diana Oliveira provides to guests. We experienced the 60 minutes Relaxation Massage with Alqvimia aromatic oils. I had the feeling that the hour just went by, but I managed to abstract myself from everything around me during the time I was there and that is exactly the purpose that is intended with a spa visit. A real reward at the end of the day.
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Therapist Diana explained to us the importance of a frequent visit to the spa and all the associated benefits that improve our health. Massage increases blood flow and frees the body of toxins, which can be the cause of pain and inflammation. In the end, we enjoyed the last minutes in the Relaxation Room, in the company of an aromatized tea. Here are available Relaxing Massages (Relaxotherapy, Ayurvedic ...) Localized Massages (Back, Legs, Head), various types of rituals (Oasis of Serenity, Queen of Egypt, Healthy Air...), as well as facial and body treatments. The end of the afternoon is done in the indoor pool or in the two outdoor pools, one for adults and the other for children and babies, both with a privileged view of the Boco River. We can also complement our experience with a sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi and fitness center to stimulate the muscles. Watching the intense colors of the sunset while enjoying a cocktail from Bar da Ria and its terrace by the pool is a unique moment that we want to share with everyone. This was a perfect way to end a memorable stay at Montebelo Vista Alegre Ă?lhavo Hotel.
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MERAKI Hotels & Fine Dining
CEO/Editor CARLA BRANCO Text CARLA BRANCO Photos MONTEBELO & CARLA BRANCO Story #10 October 2020 https://montebelohotels.com
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