Classified as one of the most picturesque villages in the centre of the country, Póvoa Dão was reborn in the early 2000s as a tourist village, after an investment of approximately five million euros in the restoration of its 41 granite houses, chapel, and common areas.
According to the Jornal de Negócios, the original project was developed by the construction company Ramos Catarino, which acquired the village in 1995 and maintained its traditional Beira design. The company, based in Cantanhede, transformed the space into a charming rural retreat, complete with a restaurant, tennis court, and surrounding gardens. However, the construction company’s financial difficulties and the crisis that followed the collapse of BES (Banco Espírito Santo) ultimately led to the abandonment of the project.
The auction house Leilosoc describes the village as “a rare opportunity in the Portuguese real estate market,” highlighting its potential for “luxury eco-resorts, tourist villages, or wine tourism projects.” The newspaper Negócios notes that the current owner, Nacala Holdings, decided to proceed with the sale of the property after Ramos Catarino went bankrupt earlier this year.
