An emblematic building in Ranholas, in Sintra, with a basement, ground floor and three upper floors, changed hands after the auction of the company Impalagest, former owner of publications such as Maria, Nova Gente and TV 7 Dias. According to the portal, the property was acquired by the Yael Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to Jewish education internationally.
The new owner plans to transform the space into a Jewish college, the website explains. The foundation, led by the couple Uri and Yael Poliavich, is based in Cyprus and operates in 41 countries, supporting more than 110 educational programs and around 17,000 students.
A large property
The building sold occupies approximately 15,000 square meters. The sale included all existing equipment and furniture, guaranteeing the buyer a facility ready to be adapted for new educational purposes.
According to the same source, the construction consists of several floors and a basement, offering significant capacity for school projects and complementary activities.
In addition to the main building, there is an adjacent plot of land that is also available at auction. According to the same source, the space has 15,266 square meters, with 8,375 square meters allocated to economic activities and 6,981 to green spaces, according to the local PDM. The land is located next to IC19, in a strategic location for future projects.
History of Impalagest
It is worth noting that Impalagest was declared insolvent in the summer of 2004. The headquarters building, previously owned by the company, was then placed on the market with a base value of 9.25 million euros and a minimum of 7,862,500 euros, and was finally sold for eight million euros. The sale was part of the process of liquidating the company’s assets.
The insolvency administrator, Jorge Gonçalves Soares, confirmed that the transaction involved equipment and furniture. The same source mentions that the objective of the auction was to guarantee the preservation and useful use of the property, while at the same time recovering part of the bankrupt estate’s credits.
New educational project
The Yael Foundation intends to use the building to create a Jewish school, writes Idealista. According to the same source, the institution focuses on expanding Jewish education around the world and sees this project in Sintra as an opportunity to strengthen the foundation’s educational presence in Portugal.
The foundation plans to adapt the interior spaces for school purposes, maintaining some of the existing areas for administrative and extracurricular activities. The publication adds that the project includes the integration of international pedagogical practices, with a focus on science, arts and Jewish culture.
Adjacent land potential
The land for sale could complement the building with new construction or recreational areas. The website explains that the green space foreseen by the PDM will allow the creation of leisure and sports areas, essential for school life, while the part destined for economic activities will be able to support complementary services, such as a canteen or libraries.
The change of ownership marks the beginning of a new phase for the Ranholas property, which goes from being the headquarters of a communications company to the educational hub of an international foundation. According to the same source, the initiative also reflects the growing interest in transforming historic properties into spaces dedicated to education and culture.
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