LUXURY HOTEL | CARMO’ S BOUTIQUE
CARMO’ S BOUTIQUE
By Jonathan Elms & Lucilia Guerreiro
My number for today( apologies to financial journalist, Jeff
Randall) is 834. That’ s the number of days it took the remarkable Maria Luisa do Carmo, and her equally impressive daughter, Raquel, to create Carmo’ s Boutique Hotel. Just think of it; in just 27 months( 119 weeks) they bought a site, designed the buildings, gardens and amenities, secured planning and funding, and built and furnished this spectacular new edition to the Small Luxury Hotels of the World portfolio. They call Portugal the California of Europe, but that schedule would have been remarkable for can-do America, let alone Portugal, not renowned for the efficiency of its institutions. The stories of development projects stuck in the mire of officialdom are legion, so you know at the outset that this one will be remarkable.
Dona Maria and Raquel are well-travelled women with a vision. They wanted to create something that would reflect the excellence and attention to detail that they had witnessed round the world, but in the setting of their beloved northern Portugal, with its unique ambience. So, Carmo’ s is about romance, but also practicality. It’ s about design, but uses furniture‘ that makes you want to use it’. It’ s about quality, but, wherever possible, using Portuguese crafts and materials. So, for example, where a particular design was not available in Portuguese cotton, Egyptian was used instead. There is great individuality at Carmo’ s, but with it, a homeliness that encourages you to mingle at table, share a drink, and explore the nooks and crannies that are full of charming touches.
Carmo’ s is situated just outside Ponte de Lima, the oldest town in Portugal, in Minho province. Ponte de Lima is also reputed to have the only Camara( council) in surplus in Portugal, and this prosperity is reflected in its well-kept squares and streets, its lively restaurants and shops, and some of the best festivals held anywhere in the country. Ponte de Lima is also on the Caminho do Santiago, and on the Roman footbridge you can sense the pilgrims that journeyed over the centuries on their way to Santiago de Compostela in neighbouring Galicia. Park by the river, and soak in the atmosphere.
The hotel is contained in two buildings at right angles, separated by a walkway that is scented by climbing shrubs and local flora. The first contains the beating heart of Carmo’ s, a unique salão, of which more later, three luxury suites on the first floor, and the Spa and Aromatherapy below.
34 | Summer 2012 | www. portugal-life. net |