Vila Gale Collection Hotel Elvas

Located within the walls of the historical centre of Elvas, classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site, Vila Galé Collection Hotel was opened in June 2019 and is housed in the former 17th century Convent of São Paulo that was also previously a military court and barracks. The new hotel came about through the Portuguese government’s rehabilitation program ‘Revive’ which aims to seek the redevelopment of landmark properties that have fallen into disuse and to give them a new lease of life.  

This elegant hotel offers 79 guest rooms, two restaurants, an outdoor and indoor swimming pool, a spa and cloister with garden area. The walls are decorated with works of art on loan from the local museums including portraits, landscapes and ancient crucifixes. Mannequins display the elaborate costumes worn throughout 18th century Portugal.  

Elvas is located in the far east of the country close to the Spanish border. This historic and perfectly preserved town has a magnificent Aqueduct extending a distance of 7km and consisting of 843 arches. It is the largest bulwarked fortification in the world and when viewed from the air its defensive structures form the shape of a star.  There’s plenty to see and do here from visiting the medieval Castle - the oldest part of the city, to the Praça da República square where the old Cathedral is located. Apart from the Islamic and Medieval walls and the ring of 17th century walls, there are also the 17th century Forte de Santa Luzia, the 18th century Forte da Graça and three smaller 19th century fortifications – São Mamede, São Pedro and São Domingos worth visiting.  

Elvas is perfectly situated to enable visits to many of the sites in the Alentejo region of Portugal as well as many famous sites located over the border in Spain. Activities in the area range from cycling, hiking and birdwatching to visiting castles, cork factories and wineries. 

Accommodation

• 79 air-conditioned rooms including standard rooms, triple rooms, family rooms and suites.

Amenities/Leisure

• Buffet continental breakfast
• Restaurant serving buffet or à la carte menu
• Bar with live music on Saturdays - subject to change locally
• Cloister with garden 
• Laundry service payable locally 
• Complimentary WiFi throughout
• 4 Lifts
• Outdoor swimming pool (150 sqm) open May-Sep 
• Spa ‘Satsanga’ (free entry) with gym, sauna, Turkish bath, Swiss shower, indoor pool (32 sqm) and massages (payable locally).  The use of a swimming cap in the indoor pool is compulsory.
• Parking garage 7.5 Euros per day (payable locally) or free public parking 
• 500m to the medieval castle in Elvas

 Places of interest close-by:  40 minutes’ drive to Estremoz; 50 minutes’ to Evoramonte; 1 hour drive to Evora; 1 hour 5 minutes’ drive to Arraiolos (carpet making town); 1 hour drive to Azaruja (cork factory); 1 hour drive to Monsaraz; 1 hour drive to São Pedro do Corval (pottery shops); 1 hour 15 minutes’ drive to Almedres-Cromlech (stonehenge equivalent); 9 castles including Evoramonte (50mins), Estremoz (40mins), Borba (30mins), Vila Viçosa (35mins), Alandroal (40mins), Redondo (46mins), Valonga (35mins), Evora (1hr) and Arraiolos (1hr 5mins).  Easy access to places of interest in Spain: 20km (30mins) to Badajoz; 82km (1hr) to Merida; 170km (1hr 36mins) to Trujillo; 109km (1hr 30mins) to Caceres.

Standard Room

Standard rooms (22-27 sqm) with air-conditioning, double or twin beds, bathroom (shower), hairdryer, telephone, cable TV, complimentary WiFi, minibar and safe deposit box. Kettle on request. Some standard rooms will accommodate an extra bed for an adult or child (2-11yrs).

Family Rooms

Family rooms (28-35 sqm) with air-conditioning, one double bed and one double sofa bed, bathroom (shower), hairdryer, telephone, cable TV, complimentary WiFi, minibar and safe deposit box. Kettle on request.

Suite

Suites (34-56 sqm) with air-conditioning, king size double bed, bathroom (shower), hairdryer, separate living room with double sofa bed suitable for an adult or two children (2-11yrs), telephone, cable TV, complimentary WiFi, minibar and safe deposit box. Kettle on request.