The Vibe: Retro-chic guest house.

The Area: Overlooking Praça da República in the heart of Viana do Castelo.

The DNA: The idea for the name is an homage to Emília Freitas, 90 years old and a full life. Besides her culinary and sewing skills, Dona Emília, as she is simply known in the city, is mostly remembered for renting rooms and singing fado, sheltering the resistance during the dictatorship and fighting for equal rights for women. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren inherited the family values of social solidarity, democracy and liberty. For the hosts, the grandson Nuno Freitas (architect), and his wife Rute (teacher and performer), the choice of the name explains the identity that they wanted to give to their project, combining human and affective aspects (here each guest is a friend and may feel literally at home) with a strong cultural dynamic. Exhibitions, workshops and art residencies are part of the activities regularly presented to visitors and open to the public. The aim is to present the city, which is traditionally appreciated for its natural diversity, lifestyle and traditions, as a destination not only directed to the conventional tourist, but also as a place of excellence for the artistic creation.

Suite-Me-Up: With three rooms that can be changed according to the specific needs of each reservation (single, double, twin, triple, quadruple or dormitory) and three suites, the house offers different typologies and modalities of accommodation.

Your hosts: Rute Esteves & Nuno Freitas

✅ free Wi-Fi • size matters: 3 rooms, 3 suites (20-25m2) (215-269 sq ft) • hotel opened: August 2016 ❌ no parking available • pets allowed on request