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FOLLOW OUR JOURNEY

2016 – The Year We Fell in Love with Portugal

In July 2016, we visited Portugal for the first time. We were invited to speak at a quality management conference at the University of Minho.. Long before this, we were very interested in and curious about Portugal. Once we arrived and had the opportunity to travel around the country, the reality far exceeded our highest expectations.

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We encountered a genuine and beautiful country characterized by harmony, balance, and quality of life. The most unique aspect, however, was the people, who were open, welcoming, and incredibly helpful. This is especially true in northern Portugal, which is quite different from the more tourist-oriented southern parts of the country.

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During this first trip, we also visited Ponte de Lima, which immediately felt like the home we had been searching for. We were fortunate to meet wonderful people and start building solid friendships. Throughout the autumn and winter, we returned to the region several times, now focused on finding the perfect place to lay down new roots.

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2017 – The Year We Found Our Property in Calvelo

During Easter 2017, we found the property that we have since transformed into Casa das Descobertas. The first time we arrived to the property, the sun was beginning to set. The feeling was unique, and we immediately knew this was the place we had been dreaming about. The beauty, the view, and the sense of harmony were overwhelming.

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On the property, there was an old ruin. We instantly saw its potential. Our goal from the start had been to create buildings that blend history and tradition with design and functionality. In this granite ruin, we saw that very potential. This vision and feeling were developed further with the help of our fantastic architect, Pedro Macedo.

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2018 – The Year We Transformed the Land

This was when the heavy work began. Large parts of our property were inaccessible, overgrown, and hilly. Our focus was on clearing, leveling, terracing, and laying the groundwork for a garden that, over the years, would grow into a paradise. The property had old grapevines, but after consulting with experts, we decided to replace them with new ones. Choosing Loureiro, the grape that most characterizes Ponte de Lima, was easy.

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This year, we worked closely with our architect. Together, we visited numerous fascinating houses, farms, and castles. Inspiration flowed, and ideas, sketches, and designs took shape. These were tested and refined. In the end, we achieved such a great result that we still find it hard to believe it’s real.

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The Design of Casa das Descobertas

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2019 – The Year We Began Construction

In the spring of 2019, the construction work began. The building material was granite, carefully assembled stone by stone using traditional techniques. It was an impressive project led by our builder, Mr. Coroas, and his very skilled craftsmen. The progress wasn’t fast, but the craftsmanship was outstanding. We fully realized this when our neighbors told us that locals would often stop by to admire the building technique when we weren’t there. Our construction was rustic and aligned with the solid quality of days gone by.

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The stone walls were rebuilt, and the tower was constructed. At the same time, we began creating the garden. Trees and plants were carefully selected and planted. A new vineyard was established, and several old olive trees were relocated to the property.

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2020 – The Year of Continual Construction

Our construction continued, but progress was slow due to the COVID-19 lockdowns. The house got its roof, the foundation was poured, the walls were insulated, and the doors and windows were designed and custom-made. We built a pergola in the garden, and several old stone tables were carefully placed.

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2021 – The Year We Lived in Casa das Descobertas for the First Time

Construction continued, focusing on the details. We found inspiration for the fireplace in an ancient castle. The brick floor was something we first saw in an old monastery, and we managed to find a manufacturer who handcrafted a similar style just for us. We designed and custom-made the bathroom tiles and built the bathroom furniture ourselves. Our talented carpenter crafted the custom-built kitchen, and outside, artistic stonework in the form of stairs and arches began to take shape. This year, we lived in the house for the first time, even though we were still cooking with a camping stove.

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We spent a lot of time searching for old furniture and designing new pieces to fit our home. We regularly visited antique markets, secondhand shops, and antique stores, making exciting discoveries every now and then. We also found skilled furniture makers who brought our sketches to life, building the pieces we envisioned.

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2022 – The Year of Finalizing the Main House

In 2022, we completed and furnished the main house while constructing the garage. We focused on creating a beautiful exterior around the house, with stone pathways, olive trees, flowers, and a herb garden.

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At the same time, we worked intensively with our architect to develop the future retreat center. After sketching and evaluating three different designs, we finally arrived at a perfect layout and created plans and blueprints. Part of this process also involved designing the pool area for the facility

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2023 – The Year of Pool Construction and Vineyard Preparations

Now, we built the 25-meter pool along with the surrounding pool area. We also acquired additional land to establish a future professional vineyard and an olive grove. This year marked the addition of Leonore to our team, who is now working with us to further develop Casa das Descobertas towards our vision of a center characterized by excellence and harmony.

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The Design of the Training Center

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2024 – The Year We Began Construction of the Training Center

Now, we built the 25-meter pool along with the surrounding pool area. We also acquired additional land to establish a future professional vineyard and an olive grove. This year we added Leonor to our team, who is now working with us to further develop Casa das Descobertas towards our vision of a center characterized by excellence and harmony.

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Training Center
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Vineyard
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Vineyard
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Olive Grow
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© 2025 Casa das Descobertas

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