Between land and sea: the new Brícia du Mar Hotel in Ferragudo
– April 7, 2022
A new rural hotel has just opened in Ferragudo, Lagoa. Brícia Du Mar is located between the countryside and the sea in Vale da Areia, just a short walk away from stunning beaches and the picturesque village of Ferragudo.
The four-star hotel boasts 56 rooms — 44 studios with a kitchenette and 12 standard rooms — as well as a restaurant, an event area, two bars, and a gym and sauna. Brícia Du Mar held its ‘soft opening’ in March with the plan being to have every amenity the hotel has to offer up and running by May or June.
The project is a dream come true for Boto Oliveira, a wellknown local builder with over 40 years of experience in his trade who, for the first time, has built his very own hotel from the ground up. “It makes me very proud to see this hotel open,” Boto Oliveira told us. “There is no other hotel in Ferragudo quite like this one.”
Boto Oliveira started working in the construction sector when he was just 12 years old and has been running his company — Construções Boto Oliveira Lda. — for over four decades. However, building his own hotel is a dream he has had for some time.
“I want to slow down a bit and focus on one thing, so I chose to move forward with this project,” he said. As the builderturned- hotelier told us,“There are practically no hotels in Ferragudo, especially of this kind.” The project was already moving forward when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, and while it was “obviously frightening”, Boto said that it did not deter his plans for one second. “I’m the kind of person who wants to move forward,” he said. “I’m a perfectionist, I built my business myself and I am proud of what I have achieved.”
A taste of the “authentic Algarve”
Brícia Du Mar aims to provide a personalised experience for guests thanks to the hotel’s attention to detail. Hotel staff (a team of 18 people) will try to give guests a taste of the “authentic Algarve”, an experience only someone who is from the region or has lived here for years knows about.
While employees will be available to provide the best tips on how to enjoy the real Algarve, Brícia Du Mar will also boast its own restaurant. Du Mar Restaurant will focus on serving typical Portuguese food, made with local produce such as fresh fish, while event area Du Rústico will be open for themed events and will have its own independent entrance and parking.
Brícia Du Mar also features two bars — Pool Bar, a seasonal poolside bar open only to guests serving everything from snacks to cocktails, and Terrace Du Bar, a rooftop bar serving wine and tapas and hosting live entertainment and sunset events.
A 300sqm gym, one of the largest hotel gyms in the Algarve
Last but not least, Spa Du Mar boasts a spa and 300sqm gym, described as one of the largest hotel gyms of its kind in the Algarve. It will be open to everyone and also feature a Turkish bath and three treatment rooms. All the above-mentioned facilities (except for the Pool Bar) are open to the general public.
Art lovers will also be able to marvel at a 2.25mx1.80m azulejo (tile) mural by Inna Iefimenko, which welcomes guests and pays tribute to Boto and his family and the village of Ferragudo.
Between the countryside and the sea
The hotel’s strategic location between the countryside and the sea aims to show guests the best of these two different sides of the Algarve, while the proximity to popular beaches, the village of Ferragudo, and a wide range of amenities is expected to make the visitor’s experience even more pleasurable.
Brícia Du Mar is also located near the Bela Vista stadium and is already attracting interest from athletics and football teams from both Portugal and abroad.
Hopes are that it will become “the hotel of choice” for those who visit Lagoa for culture and sports events. In fact, the hotel is already reporting interest from visitors linked to the Grand Jeté International Dance Awards taking place in July in Lagoa.
Visit Brícia du Mar‘s website, or follow on Instagram and Facebook.
Text by Michael Bruxo
