After spending a season in Italy, Johann Friedrich Ludwig arrived in Lisbon in 1700 and quickly became the favorite artist-goldsmith and architect of the King D. João V , (1689-1750), nicknamed the Magnanimous, who commissioned several important works from him, including one of the most emblematic monuments in Portugal: the National Palace of Mafra, today a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ludwig, who became known in the Portuguese capital as João Frederico Ludovice, built his residence in the top of the Calçada da Glória: a five-story palace full of windows and balconies with impressive views whose works were completed in 1747.
Ludovice Palace, Lisbon.
Considered one of the most beautiful Of the old Lisbon given its high quality of construction, in which the anti-seismic technique called “gaiola” (cage), this palace survived the Great Earthquake of 1755 that left Lisbon devastated. Such work will serve as inspiration for the Pombaline Buildings that the Marquis of Pombal ordered to be built in his great work of reconstruction and reorganization of the Portuguese capital.
In the 19th century the palace was divided into various apartments and offices and in 1945 the Solar Port Wine , an iconic store in the city. And so it remains until, in 2016, the architect Miguel Cancio Martins he buys it and dreams of making this palace a new 5-star hotel in a privileged location: in the Barrio Alto, opposite the Viewpoint of Sao Pedro de Alcantara and the emblematic Ascensor da Glória. Ludovice Palace shine again.
Ludovice Palace, Lisbon.
Miguel, known for his work in the Buddha Bar of Paris, the Opium of London and the hotel Quinta da Comporta, takes care of the renovation works with the utmost care and with maximum respect for the Heritage and the history of the place. Beside Jacques Chahine decorate the hotel and give a new life to it yellow palace which has 61 rooms and suites of various sizes and very bright, with that clear light so typical of Lisbon.
Among them there is a very special room: the old kitchen of the palace. We stayed in the smallest, the rooms Cozy, which are of great comfort. The decoration, luxurious and cheerful, it brings back many elements of the 18th century, while the spacious suites maintain that “palatial” air.
despite the touch contemporary well marked, the hotel made us go back in time and we feel like distinguished guests of a palace
Prestige Suite, Palácio Ludovice, Lisbon.
Câncio Martins wanted to renovate the historic store of the Solar do Vinho do Porto, whose owners are still tenants of the hotel, and given this connection of the wine with the palace, he decided to open the spa with the signature Caudalie , instead of using its own cosmetics from Quinta da Comporta, Oryza, connected with the paddy fields of behaves , which makes perfect sense. Thus, in addition to the spa, Caudalie has a shop in the hotel and offers all the hospitality products for the rooms. a delight
Following this theme, the hotel's restaurant-bar, called Frederick , has a collector's wine list that pays homage to the history of the viticulture Portuguese, distinguished for mastering the “art of blending”, and containing wines from all the regions of Portugal, a small country with more than 300 varieties of grapes All a taste and diversity for the palate.
Federico, Ludovice Palace, Lisbon.
The Federico restaurant is located in a bright interior courtyard with lush hanging vertical gardens , with unique lighting that changes throughout the day and is alive throughout the day, from breakfast to dinner. It is the heart of the Palácio Ludovice.
the baroque chapel it was also renovated and you can see the curious symbols masonic and Hebrew inscriptions, witnesses of the eclectic character and mysterious of the owner, as well as a majestic staircase with panels of tiles 18th century in white and blue. All of great beauty.
I'm sure Ludovice would have approved the new life of his palace, brimming with history and ready to welcome new lives and adventures in this privileged setting of the city with the came as a common thread of this new chapter.
We all like a good story. Y, who likes a good wine?