Hotel de Moura

Am at the moment in the loveliest of towns called Moura, in the Beja region of Portugal. Like the name hints the city was once a stronghold in the Alentejo landscape with a castle controlled by the Moors. Booked rooms at this hotel called Hotel de Moura which is the city hotel and located in the middle of town and the historical quarters.

The hotel building originally belonged to the convent of the order Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God (ordem Hospitaleira de São João de Deus). John of God, the founder of the order, was a Portuguese born in a town nearby called Montemor-o-Novo in 1495, and he began this religious order of Brothers in order to help the sick and neady, therefore many of the convents acted as hospitals in the towns where they were founded. The forced abandonment of the religious orders in 1834 sent the brothers marching away from this place. Just beside the hotel is a church building today but the hotel part has been renovated with an Art Noveau style and opened as a city hotel in the year of 1900.

The front facade is covered with blue and white azulejos/tiles. Inside you have a high ceiling in each room with stuccoed details, terracotta vases and local arts and crafts decorating the rooms. Outside on the back there is an orange grove full of ripe small oranges which you can pick and taste, leading up to the peaceful pool area which is painted white and blue. In the summer you might enjoy a swim there or if you are here during winter the sight of the oranges will put a smile on your face.

Please do stay here for a night or two if you are passing by. You will feel like you've gone back in time and may recharge your batteries, away from the hectic city life.