The transformation of the south wing of this property in the Aveiro district and the Porto Metropolitan Area was carried out by the MS Group, within the scope of the REVIVE Programme, with which the Ministries of Culture, Economy, Finance and Defence encourage the recovery and valorisation of public properties with tourism potential.

Funded with 1.5 million euros by the Portugal 2020 program, the intervention that gave rise to the so-called “MS Collection Mosteiro de Arouca” resulted in a unit that includes 53 rooms, including a royal duplex suite, and which complements this accommodation capacity with a restaurant, bars, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a children's play area and several meeting rooms, all set among two hectares of gardens.

Regarding the target audience, the marketing and communications director of MS Group, Helena Valente, told Lusa: “Taking into account the characteristics of the region, we intend to reach markets beyond Portugal, such as Spain, the United States, France and Germany, because we work with individual guests, we focus on the MICE segment [acronym in English for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events] and we are also a destination for weddings, due to the unique particularities of our historical heritage”.

The group's founder, Pedro Mesquita Sousa, believes that the tourist offer of the municipality classified as a Geopark will constitute a particular factor of attraction, considering that “Arouca has anchor points such as the Paiva Walkways, the 516 Bridge, the Serra da Freita and several places of geological importance, thus being an attractive destination and of extreme archaeological, natural and historical-cultural value”.

To ensure the operation of the new hotel, around 50 direct jobs were created, attributed “in the vast majority to local professionals”, but the founder of the MS Group says that, in the summer, this workforce must be “reinforced” to meet the demands of the high season.

Pedro Mesquita Sousa also notes that the 10 million investment in Arouca precedes two other projects by the group: currently under study, the creation of a unit in Alentejo, and, already under construction, the opening of Moon & Sun Funchal next winter.

History

Founded between 915 and 925 as a Benedictine temple, the Monastery of Arouca was the residence of Queen D. Mafalda, daughter of King D. Sancho I and granddaughter of Afonso Henriques, from 1220 to 1256, who decided to consecrate it to the Cistercian Order and wanted to be buried there.

The building has been in the possession of the State since 1834, at the time of the extinction of religious orders, but it maintained monastic functions until 1886, when its last nun, who until then had residence rights, died.

Currently, in parallel with the new hotel, the property continues to house the activities of the Arouca Museum of Sacred Art, the D. Domingos de Pinho Brandão Memorial Library and the Church of São Bartolomeu.

It is also the setting for regular events such as the recreation of “The History of a Monastery”, the Iberian Pipe Organ Cycle Rainha Santa Mafalda, the Chestnut Festival and the Harvest Fair.