Zen & Art: Charming Accommodation in Santa Maria da Feira

Zen & Art, a charming accommodation created in a family home, offers artist-designed suites in an atmosphere of peace. It provides all the tranquillity needed to switch off and relax, just moments from the historic centre of Santa Maria da Feira and overlooking the castle.

A family home shaped by art and history

Paulo Portela knows every corner of the family house from his grandparents’ era, which also served as the Feira city police station for 30 years. He lingers over its details: the old, intricately worked wooden doors, so admired by guests; the remarkably thick stone column supporting the walls; the almond trees emerging in the garden; and the paintings portraying his father and mother, created by the late self-taught Feira painter António Joaquim.

There are also wall lights in the form of gargoyles, made by sculptor José Aurélio for Vista Alegre; antique furniture found at antiques fairs; Asian-patterned wallpaper with the appearance of fabric; and carefully selected ceramics for the bathrooms, each one different.

It is immediately clear what this place represents: accommodation celebrating family, art and history. "It is a space created for switching off, with a very distinctive concept of beauty," explains Paulo Portela, the owner of the house and a lawyer by profession. It is an art-filled retreat for rest. "The people who stay here say they feel a great deal of peace; the impact is very positive."

Zen & Art suites created by artists

The chosen name, Zen & Art, reflects its purpose. It took three years to bring Paulo Portela’s ideas to life. He invited artists working in different forms of expression to design five of the nine suites and leave their individual mark.

Their signatures are visible throughout. Reading and writing define the family room created by author Alice Vieira. Sculptor Paulo Neves contributed wooden panels embedded with spirals. Michelin-starred chef Arnaldo Azevedo’s love of mountains is expressed in a room with generous ceiling height. English refinement, meanwhile, comes through in a high bed fit for a king and an antique writing desk, both inspired by winemaker Luís Sottomayor, associated with Barca Velha wine. The roots of Santa Maria da Feira are felt in painter António Macedo’s room.

The remaining suites reflect Paulo Portela’s own hand and taste: two with Japanese inspiration, a blue room and a cabin-style suite.

There is art and design, old pieces alongside contemporary ones, and history in its many forms. There is a past as well as a future. "The idea is to preserve the house so that it can live for another 100 years," he says. It is about memories, recollections and love, too: a promise made to his late father, Celestino Portela, and to his passions for writing, painting, sculpture, gastronomy and wine. This is a family tribute in a charming accommodation between countryside and town, with views of the castle on the hill.

Quiet spaces at Zen & Art

The green-walled library, complete with a fireplace and gramophone, contains books from previous centuries that tell the story of this home, Casa da Lavandeira, which has stood for more than 300 years. It is another room to enjoy without watching the clock. The terrace overlooking the countryside, at the entrance to the dining room, is equally inviting for peaceful moments. The accommodation also accepts bookings for wedding parties, christenings and birthdays.

Outside, greenery is essential to the more zen side of the property. There is a lake, swimming pool and jacuzzi, along with a bamboo grove containing Japanese trees, ginkgo biloba and a camphor tree. A small amphitheatre with a fireplace is also available, as are yoga classes every Saturday morning at 10.30 am.

Spread across two floors, the house extends like open arms and stands sturdy, as though carrying the weight of history. It has been transformed into accommodation designed for serenity to take hold through artistic contemplation, only 300 metres from the city’s historic centre and a ten-minute walk from the castle. There is not a trace of noise. Here, time moves slowly.

Zen & Art
Rua Dr. Paulo Sá, 2, Santa Maria da Feira
Tel.: 968 417 877
Web: zenandart.pt
From €100, including breakfast