Inaugurated more than eight decades ago, it was the cradle of tradition, the stage of meetings and symbol of an innovative view for national tourism. For years it has attracted visitors from all over the country and abroad. Recently, the first hostel of the Portugal Pousadas Network ended doors definitively, ending a cycle that began during the Estado Novo.
It was in the city of Elvas, in the district of Portalegre, that Pousada de Santa Luzia, inaugurated in 1942, marked the start of the Portuguese inns. Founded by the initiative of the poet and politician António Ferro, who saw in this model a way of promoting tourism with identity, elegance and proximity to the territory, unity has become a national reference.
The closing after 83 years
According to Expresso, the closure was made official on July 5. The space operated in recent years with the name “SL Hotel de Santa Luzia”, maintaining the inheritance and name that gave it notoriety.
According to the same source, the reason for the decision is the lack of workers and health problems of the owner, João Simões. The businessman explained that the scarcity of labor in Elvas became unmatched, noting that it was usual to have to take office alone, such as reception, breakfasts and general services. “There was no hypothesis but to close the doors,” he confessed.
The origin of the famous golden cod
In addition to the accommodation, the hostel was also associated with the creation of one of the most emblematic dishes of Portuguese cuisine. As the publication writes, Golden Cod will have been born in 1947 in this same space, inspired by the traditional cod to Brás. The recipe quickly spread and today is made from north to south of the country.
The now former owner ensures that the dish will not disappear: “The revenue is public and will continue to be done throughout the country,” says João Simões.
A project with historical signature
The concept of regional hostel was born in the 1930s. In 1933 a contest was launched in the news illustrated for an “model hotel”. Three years later, Francisco de Lima presented to the 1st National Tourism Congress the idea of a local identity accommodation network.
The project for Pousada de Santa Luzia was commissioned to architect Miguel Simões Jacobetty Rosa in 1939, while the furniture was in charge of Vera Leroi and Anne-Marie Jauss, executed by Barbosa & Costa. The official inauguration took place on April 19, 1942.
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Growth and Evolution
In August 1963, the original building was expanded. This intervention added new spaces, such as living room, support bar and expansion of the dining room. The number of rooms also increased from six to eleven.
In the latest years, SL Hotel Santa Luzia has made available 25 rooms, overlooking the garden, pool or city, remaining as a reference in the regional hotel shop.
A challenge for the local hospitality
João Simões’s experience is not isolated case. According to, the difficulty in finding available and qualified workers has affected several businesses in the region. In the case of Pousada de Santa Luzia, the owner claims that he had even delayed surgery due to lack of staff, stressing the direct impact on the health and operation of the hotel.
Despite the closure, the building maintains equity value. The lease ended and João Simões chose to hand over the property to Enatur, a public company that manages the Portuguese inns network. The future of space remains open.
A model that changed tourism
The creation of the Portugal inns network had a profound impact on national tourism. Seeking to combine tradition, comfort and authenticity, the concept helped value interior zones and streamline local economies. Pousada de Santa Luzia was the first, but the model extended over the decades throughout the territory.
Over the years, the unit has been distinguished by maintaining alive the tradition of Portuguese hospitality. He saw passing travelers’ generations and remained as a mandatory stopping point in Elvas, a city that was classified as a world heritage by UNESCO.
Uncertain future, right memories
The reopening is not yet foreseen and remains to clarify the future of the property. ENATUR has not advanced details of new projects or possible concessions. Still, the closing generated reactions of grief between ancient guests and local inhabitants, for whom the hostel was also part of the city’s daily life.
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