In a privileged location facing the Ria Formosa marsh, the Bernardas Convent basks in the unrivalled light of this natural treasure. A few metres away, the Roman bridge over the River Gilão lends even greater depth to the building’s historical value.
Renowned architect Eduardo Souto Moura took up the gauntlet thrown down by the firm Entreposto, Gestão Imobiliária to convert a historical monument into a dwelling, as has been happening in other European countries.
The 78 villas range in size from studios to three bedrooms. High quality building materials, contemporary comfort and carefully-studied design are combined with the most innovative systems in telecommunications; this is the first complex in the Algarve to be equipped with a fibre optic system for television, voice communications and Internet.
Modern-day facilities and services offered by the Bernardas Convent include two saltwater swimming pools with Finnish overflow, video surveillance, doorman, a room for the joint-ownership and a museum.
The most visible aspect of this bold undertaking is the recuperation of the structure, maintaining the Manueline-Gothic portal and the original lines of the façade.
Standing over the Ria Formosa and the mouth of the River Gilão, the Bernardas Convent affords a unique view over the centuries-old Tavira saltpans. It’s the perfect home in which to rub shoulders with five centuries of history.
