Here, a deep-rooted feeling is revealed in the way we perceive the world. Beyond what is seen, it is in the unseen — beneath the surface of this land — that its true power is revealed.
Let yourself melt into it.
GROTA owes its name to the main spring of the River Lis, called the “grota”, located in Fontes, which belongs to the geographical region of Cortes, in Leiria. Grota is a natural treasure, located at the edge of the Estremenho Limestone Massif, a karst complex that holds the second largest underground freshwater reservoir in the country. Parts of the massif — the mountain ranges of Maunça and Senhora do Monte — which surround the grota, are part of the setting of this area, whose natural exuberance has been a factor of attraction since the earliest settlements.
We know that during the medieval period, the Moors occupied Cortes, leaving visible traces in the place names of local areas such as Alqueidão, Reixida and Mourões. Cortes is one of the oldest villages in the municipality of Leiria, with written records dating back to the 13th century, identified as a region of farmland and estates. There are documents that mention the existence of Templar-owned properties in Fontes region around 1250.
GROTA is also the name given to this family home, which has belonged to the family branch of Manuel Ribeiro Vieira dating back to his great-grandfather, Manuel Vieira Repolho, prior to 1853 — the date inscribed on the right-hand wall of the entrance gate, next to the river.
Photographs from the 1920s reveal a man of good physical appearance and health, with a strong sense of family life. He is believed to have dedicated his life to caring for the land he owned, particularly to viticulture — a tradition that continues to this day through his descendants in the current generation. He left this house to his grandson, Manuel Alves Vieira, who was married to Júlia de Jesus Ribeiro. They were the parents of Manuel Ribeiro Vieira, who later inherited the property.
Confident that Fontes offers excellent conditions for moments of rest, silence, celebration, contemplation, and family leisure — each in its own season — the family decided, 170 years after the oldest inscription on the house wall, to restore their grandparents’ old home. They left some of their phrases inscribed on the walls and gave shape to this GROTA with the mastery of architect Tiago Frazão and bricklayer Fernando Marcelino. The graphics, inspired by the water spring found at the eastern entrance of the complementary building and the native plants of Fontes, were stylised by designer Inês Gonçalves and applied at the entrance to the lodgings.
It was a conscious decision that the materials used in GROTA should be mostly local and national, honouring the quality of traditional Portuguese architecture.
In the construction, materials from the Leiria region were used, such as the red clay bricks from Pombal and the Marseille roof tiles from Cruz da Légua. We applied Moleanos and Azul Cadoiço limestone, sourced from Moleanos and Ataíja; hand-cut dry stone from Alcanadas and hand-made micro cube paving from Alqueidão da Serra. Local craftsmanship was key in all woodwork and metalwork, carried out with precision by several companies in Leiria. The porcelain tableware and glassware came from the factories of Alcobaça, and the blankets and rugs from Mira D’Aire. And many more makers and suppliers from the Leiria region, whose work deeply impressed us. Where it was not possible to find locally, we turned to other trusted national producers: white marble from Estremoz, ceramic tiles from the factories of Aveiro, textiles from the factory in Torres Novas, stainless steel cutlery from the factory in Caldas das Taipas and other equipment from the north of the Douro.
It was our own hands, together with a team of friends, that built GROTA — centimetre by centimetre — with the care of those who truly want to do things well.
