Fernando Almeida is a native of Oliveira de Frades; twenty years ago, he moved to the Alentejo coast, where he invested in a hotel property in Vila Nova de Milfontes (Odemira, Beja), but he “always maintained the desire to return and invest” in his hometown.

“I felt that Oliveira de Frades lacked significant tourism offerings, so I chose that beautiful spot in my municipality, next to the Vouga River and the Ribeiradio Dam, to provide a unique space” for visitors to the Vale do Éden (Eden Valley).

The new resort, opening on 28 August, is located in Virela—“an ageing village in the parish of Arcozelo das Maias,” within the municipality of Oliveira de Frades (Viseu district)—and represents a €3 million investment by his family business.

“Much like the Herdade do Amarelo in the Alentejo, this is a distinctive tourism concept; it stems from an idea I envisioned, as a guest myself, for the space I own,” the owner told Lusa.

The development consists of a villa with two suites, plus another 12 suites—all featuring a Jacuzzi and a fireplace, and offering very large, spacious areas that go beyond the norm,” he said.

According to the owner, there are 10 “panoramic” suites, which “have the unique feature of being suspended on pillars, some raised six meters high, to provide a distinctive view of the enchanted valley, the Vouga River, and the surrounding mountains.”

“That’s what made me fall in love with the place; it isn’t my native village, but we felt it was the ideal location for what we wanted to create,” admitted Fernando Almeida. He also utilised existing structures, ” which had been abandoned”, to build the villas and the dining hall, “incorporating and harmonising” elements such as stone and wood.

Almeida acknowledged that the area “is not, nor does it currently serve as, a major tourist hub, but the goal is to draw people to the location and revitalise both the village and the municipality,” as well as the local economy.

“Our idea is to use local products, especially in the kitchen. We’ve also spoken with the people of Virela, who continue to farm despite their advanced age, about making their high-quality produce available for sale to our guests,” he added.

This development has brought improved access to Virela and the surrounding area; previously, there were only dirt tracks, but the Oliveira de Frades Municipality is now finishing work on an access road to make the village easily reachable.

“Another noticeable change is that property values ​​in Virela, a village that had been so neglected and ageing, are already rising, even before the tourism operations have officially launched. The development has sparked new interest in the area and even led to the renovation of existing homes,” he noted.

Vale do Éden Natura e SPA also features about a kilometre of wooden walkways, “built to enhance the landscape, blend in with the surroundings, and provide better access” to the Vouga River. “The idea is to be as natural and immersed in nature as possible, yet with every conceivable amenity,” stated Fernando Almeida, citing the existing facilities for electric vehicles, including the “service vehicle, which is also electric”, as an example.

For this entrepreneur, “it makes no sense to do it any other way nowadays; one has to be sustainable.” This approach also involves utilising water “from the various springs on the property that used to flow directly into the river; the water still ends up there, but first, it irrigates the gardens.”