São Lourenço do Barrocal
Photo credits:
Vitor Oliveira (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)
In the Alentejo, near Monsaraz, a 780-hectare estate held by the same family for more than two centuries has come back to life. José António Uva, the eighth generation, entrusted the restoration of the farm village to Eduardo Souto de Moura, winner of the 2011 Pritzker Prize.
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In the 19th century, up to fifty families lived at São Lourenço do Barrocal, with their workshops, school and bullring. The estate still holds dolmens and menhirs some 7,000 years old. Olive groves, vineyards and cork oaks supply the wine and produce served at the restaurant.
The restoration reused some 250,000 roof tiles and 70,000 clay bricks, and had 350,000 bricks made the traditional local way. The estate has created 135 jobs, 80% of them held by local people. Its 40 units, including 16 cottages with kitchens, welcome groups who work in the old olive mill or the wine cellar.
Agent A\lex