In 2008, we discovered the ruin with no roof that stole our hearts. After some five years careful restoration, our Porto Boutique Hotel, Canto De Luz opened as a Luxury Maison, offering a home from home for our discerning guests.
Behind the unassuming traditional tiled facade of a mechant townhouse is our modern interpetation of the Porto luxury townhouse, updated for ultimate luxury and modern comforts whilst preserving traditional features and themes.
The Maison dates from the 18th century and was one of the first to be conutructed on Rua do Almada which itself was a trailblazer, connecting 3 important areas of the city. It was the first street outside the Fernandine city walls to have pedestrian paving & allocated house numbers that facilitated the then new postal mail service to deliver.
In the 18th & 19th century the area was a place for the well healed “in crowd”, whose debutante daughters would sit at the lovely wrought iron balconies that run the whole length of the street whilst suitors made excuses to pass by below.
The street was originally associated with ironmongery and some buildings still have rails set in to their ground floor that were used to move heavy items in to the interior of the workshops
In the early 20th century residential use gave way to commercial and Canto was owned for many years by the Pelikan company of Hanover, Germany, who are world famous for fountain pens and stationary supplies. Pelikan used Canto as their factory and factory store in Portugal.
In the ruins we found a large item of furniture with many small drawers that was used by the company in its shop to hold pens, inks and other items that customers from the Porto area and beyond came to buy.
We have restored this lovely piece which has more than 42 drawers and now it sits in pride of place in the reception area and supports or Magical wine machine which connects us to another important history of the area, the vines of the Douro Valley.
Times may changes but some values are timeless.
Canto De Luz is a place to call your own in Porto, an oasis in the city, welcoming and with unfailing service.
Like those who used this special building before us, our team delight in providing a high quality service with attention to detail. Our only goal is to help you maximise your time in Porto and take home unforgettable memories.
Our family villas provide a perfect retreat for families seeking both luxury and comfort, designed to feel like a true home-away-from-home. Explore our collection of property photos to glimpse the unique character and style that define Canto de Luz, inviting you to experience a blend of history and elegance in every corner.
