The building where Fernando Pessoa spent his last days, the São Luís dos Franceses Hospital, will be converted into a luxury hotel. Located in Bairro Alto, in Lisbon, this new five -star venture will have 68 rooms.
The Lisbon City Council gave Luz Verde, last Wednesday, the 19th, to the construction of the hotel in the buildings of the old hospital. The project will be developed by Mercan Properties and promises to bring a new life to the historical space.
THE HISTORY OF THE BUILDING
This set of buildings has a long history, dating back to the sixteenth century, when it was erected as the palace Cunhal das Balls. Later, its facilities were occupied by the São Luís dos Frances Hospital, which became a milestone in the city.
The transformation of the building will imply expansion works and some partial demolitions. The intervention provides for the adaptation of space to the requirements of modern hospitality, but maintaining its historical essence.
The new hotel will occupy a total area of 1,567.30 square meters and will have different accommodation typologies. Among the 68 units available, there will be four individual rooms, 62 doubles and two suites.
Project approval is subject to certain conditions, including obtaining a favorable opinion of IP cultural heritage. This document should evaluate aspects related to architecture, archeology and external arrangements.
One of the requirements imposed by the municipality is the replacement of the plaque that marked Fernando Pessoa’s presence on site. This plate, which was next to the main gate, should be replaced to preserve the poet’s memory.
The last days of the Portuguese poet
Fernando Pessoa was admitted to the São Luís dos French Hospital on November 29, 1935. The poet suffered from health problems associated with alcoholism, which led to his hospitalization.
The day after entering the hospital, the writer died, just 47 years old. His death deeply marked Portuguese literature, leaving a vast literary legacy and a multiplicity of heteronyms.
According to, person received several visits while being hospitalized. Despite his debilitated state, he has even managed to write his last words. On a sheet of paper, he registered the date “10/29/1935” and wrote the enigmatic phrase: “I know not what to tomorrow will Bring”. These words, written in English, went to history as their last reflection.
The hospital kept alive the poet’s memory through a panel placed on the first floor of the building. In it were registered some of his most iconic poems, honoring his work and his passage through the place.
At the height of person hospitalization, the hospital was managed by the filles of La Charité, a French religious order. The nuns played an important role in the operation of the institution and in the reception of patients.
With the transformation of the building into a hotel, the history of the place is expected to continue to be respected. The project promises to value heritage and preserve elements that recall the past of space. This new hotel in Bairro Alto will be more than a simple accommodation. The intention is to create a space where history and modernity intersect, keeping the memory of Fernando Pessoa alive.
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