About Santuário de Poesia
A house with a past, a new chapter and many stories still waiting to be written.
On the edge of Moreira de Rei, in a remarkable spot with a wide view over the castle, the hills and far towards Spain, stands Santuário de Poesia: a stately village villa with a remarkable history.
The origins of the house go back much further than the present façade suggests. In the oldest cellar there are still traces of construction pointing to a far earlier origin, possibly even medieval.
In 1984 a new chapter began. The original small village house was thoroughly rebuilt and extended into the generous house that stands here today. After that, things went quiet for a long time.
Until I found the house in 2025. It felt as though it had been waiting patiently all those years to be brought back to life. After an intensive renovation the house was made habitable again, with respect for its character, its old elements and the particular atmosphere of this place.
The name Santuário de Poesia belongs to the history of the house. The poet José Maria Martins once lived here and wrote much of his poetry in this place. When I took the house over I deliberately kept the name — not only out of respect for what was already here, but also because it still fits this place exactly. A house where poems were once written and where new stories are taking shape today.
The first guest room is now ready and Santuário de Poesia opens its doors to guests.
Santuário keeps growing
At present Santuário de Poesia has one spacious en-suite double room.
Behind the scenes we are working on a second en-suite guest room, La Lua, which we expect to be available in the spring of 2027. This is how Santuário grows, step by step, without losing its small and personal character.