Casa Azul Lugar, da Porta, Cristóval, Melgaço, Viana do Castelo, Portugal

Casa Azul, Lugar da Porta, Cristóval, Melgaço, Viana do Castelo

The majestic Casa Azul is located in Lugar da Porta, Cristóval, in the municipality of Melgaço, and is one of the most beautiful and imposing architectural gems of the cultural heritage. Its blue color is a registered, indelible hallmark and may not be changed without authorization from the historical heritage authorities. The mountains in the background are in Spain, and all around is the privileged neighborhood: Alvarinho vineyards.
Built in the late 19th century and early 20th century, the house embodies the splendor of an era when good taste and refinement prevailed, even among the newly wealthy. Urban legend has it that its designer and builder, a Portuguese man, went to Brazil to make his fortune and, upon returning, brought back the finest and strongest timber he could find to build his home.
The exterior walls use a mixed technique of ashlar masonry and stone masonry, with the pure technique left exposed only inside on the lower floor. All the exterior walls were built to a minimum thickness of 60 cm.
The exterior veranda has balusters carved as a single unit on the porch, highlighting the skill and meticulous craftsmanship of the stone masons hired for the job.
At the windows on the front of the building, beside the entrance, the builder not only used the most classic ashlar masonry design but seems to have gone all out with the technique, commissioning the coat of arms bearing the Maltese Cross, in tribute to the country where he was born, and the coat of arms of the Federative Republic of Brazil to be carved into the same lintel stone, expressing his gratitude to the country that welcomed him and gave him the opportunity to prosper. It has architectural details reminiscent of the Brazilian colonial style, which is why this type of building in Portugal is known as “brasileiro”.
It features spacious living rooms and bedrooms with high ceilings.
Casa Azul has a beautiful holly tree in its grounds, considered to be the largest in Europe, a finding made by the Institute of the Environment in 2013.
The current owners’ environmental concern is also evident in the care they have taken to preserve the water that flowed through the property. The spring is located on “Caminho da Canelha” (designated Municipal Road 1138), 84 meters from Casa Azul. The water flowed through the property and continued on to the neighboring plot. The current owners have piped the water, collecting all of it through antibacterial pipes. The water is of exceptional quality and is used in the house.
The ornamental pond was built entirely from stones that supported the wine cellar barrels, arranged in a rectangular shape, while the fountain at its center evokes the famous “Torre de Menagem”, an unmistakable landmark of Melgaço Castle.
The garden in front of Casa Azul features geometric arrangements of shrubs, wildflowers, and ornamental pine trees.
To improve security, the current owners reinforced the retaining wall with a gabion structure, with a base 5 meters wide and heights ranging from 4 to 6 meters along the entire 53-meter boundary.
Immediately beyond the automatic gate providing access to the property are three parking spaces.
To reduce consumption and make use of the property’s ample sunlight, three solar panels with storage tanks have been installed, ensuring that practically all the water needed in the house can be heated in a day. If solar power is unavailable, gas heating takes over.
Casa Azul is set on a plot of approximately 1,500 square meters and comprises three floors.

INTERMEDIATE FLOOR
Porch This feature of Casa Azul’s façade is a true calling card. Made from solid stone blocks, it is a fine example of ashlar masonry, supported by four Doric columns in keeping with the simplicity and beauty of the whole. Above the stonework are magnificent balusters, each carved from a single block of stone with great care. Even the rainwater drainage channels are made from solid pieces of stone, hollowed out by hand. The ceiling is also made of Brazilian wood, in lighter tones.
Entrance Hall Opening the solid wood double door, approximately 5 cm thick and richly decorated with high- and low-relief carvings highlighted with green paint, reveals the entrance hall.
Bedroom / Office / Library To the right of the entrance door, this room was originally planned as another bedroom but has been furnished by the current owners as an office/library.
Italian Bathroom Another little gem, built over 8.3 m².
Tea Room At the time the house was built, the current tea room was used as a dining room. It still has the lift that carried food directly from the kitchen to the dining room. All the furniture is made of solid wood.
Dining Room The 38.50 m² dining room accommodates a table with 10 English-style chairs. The velvet curtains create an enveloping and very cozy atmosphere. The finishing touch is a stately Bohemian crystal chandelier.
Living Room A pleasant, relaxed, comfortable, and refined space. The luxurious combination of “Antiguas-tierras-florentinas” paintwork, wood, crystal, velvet, and tapestries is devoted entirely to the well-being of the residents and their guests. Period furniture in velvet and classic tones makes it impossible not to feel comfortable and perfectly immersed in the “art déco” atmosphere, while still feeling entirely contemporary.
Vestibule The 22.5 m² vestibule connects the different rooms on this floor, as well as the floors below and above. The staircase woodwork remains virtually untouched after nearly a century of use, retaining the beauty and sturdiness it had on the very first day.
Stained Glass The staircase connecting the floors below and above is illuminated and warmed by approximately 20 m² of extraordinary decorative stained-glass windows facing south.

UPPER FLOOR
Vestibule The 16.8 m² vestibule on the upper floor is a characteristic example of a Brazilian colonial-style house, where the vestibule serves as a space connecting the home’s social and private areas. At Casa Azul, it also provides access to the terrace.
Suite 1 The furniture in this 23.50 m² bedroom is understated, with clean lines and made of solid wood. The bathroom measures approximately 5.00 m². The walk-in closet is incorporated into the bathroom and measures 4.30 m².
Suite 2 This is the largest suite, at 25 m². It has two side-by-side windows facing the rising sun and one facing north. The 7.00 m² bathroom is modern and well lit, with a large north-facing window. This suite’s spacious walk-in closet measures 4.70 m².
Suite 3 This 20 m² suite is very similar to Suite No. 1, with one north-facing window and two west-facing windows, making it bright and warmed by the afternoon sun. It also has a door providing direct access to the terrace. The 7.00 m² bathroom is bright, modern, and well lit. The spacious 3.80 m² walk-in closet is well laid out.
Bedroom 4 This cozy 15.3 m² bedroom has one south-facing window and another facing west, making it the warmest room in Casa Azul.
Terrace From this spacious 18.6 m² terrace, you can see all the way from the hills of Alcobaça to the Spanish mountains. In summer, when the sun sets after 9:00 p.m., it is a pleasant place to enjoy the evening.
ROOF The elegant six-sided roof, with its Brazilian timber structure, remains as well preserved as it was at the beginning of the last century.

LOWER FLOOR
Stairway 1 From the pedestrian gate, on the right, is the visitor parking area. The kitchen can be reached via the access ramp or the stone steps beside the house.
Stairway 2 From the pedestrian gate, on the left as you enter the house, pass the sunroom to reach the laundry room via Stairway 2.
Laundry Room Although the floor plan only includes a laundry room, the owners chose to build an adjoining bathroom, making the most of the 12 m² area.
Garages The lower floor includes two covered garages totaling 62.5 m², with space to park up to three cars. The doors are automatic and can be operated by remote control or manually.
Bedroom 1 A 14 m² bedroom used as temporary accommodation when the house has many visitors.
Bathroom 1 Measuring 6.5 m², it can be used by the occupants of Bedroom 1, visitors, and/or guests using the games room.
Games Room At 46 m², it accommodates a billiards table, a table for poker, backgammon, and other board games, a walnut bar and small wine cellar, sofas, and cushions. The entire ceiling is finished in wood paneling, helping to maintain the room’s acoustic and thermal comfort.
Bedroom 2 This 28.20 m² bedroom is currently used as an embroidery and sewing studio.
Vestibule The 12.5 m² vestibule has several closets.
Hall The 4.50 m² hall connects the floors, the kitchen, and the games room. It contains an “old-fashioned pantry” style cabinet with a glazed section for storing crockery.
Wine Cellar This 13.50 m² space, once used as a wine cellar, is now occupied by numerous dining table and stove sets, suited to the festive occasions enjoyed by Casa Azul’s guests.
Pantry Beside the entrance and kitchen is this auxiliary pantry, measuring 2.2 m², where everyday items such as peppers, seasonings, olive oils, etc. are stored.
Basement Below the kitchen is the basement, which houses the larger pantry, water-heating boilers and support equipment, as well as the valves that allow the solar and gas systems to be used alternately or together.
Kitchen One of Casa Azul’s finest features, showcasing its refinement and comfort, is its magnificent 31.2 m² kitchen, with two windows facing the rising sun that illuminate and warm the room. Its wood-paneled ceiling, designed to enhance thermal and acoustic comfort, alternates light and dark wood tones, adding character and making the room even cozier.

Casa Azul is just 9 kilometers from the historic town of Melgaço. Geographically, it is 60 kilometers from Vigo Airport, 140 kilometers from Santiago de Compostela Airport, 160 kilometers from Porto Airport, 110 kilometers from the city of Viana do Castelo, 120 kilometers from the city of Braga, and 14 kilometers from Castro Laboreiro.

Casa Azul is renowned for its musical evenings and literary gatherings.