Sapientia Boutique Hotel

Located in Coimbra’s UNESCO-protected university district, the Sapientia Boutique Hotel is a welcome new addition to the city’s historic skyline.

The Sapientia was a challenge taken on by a group of friends: a passion-project for Andre Sardet, Catarina Dutra, Jose Portugal and Maria Portugal. Sitting beneath the southern wall of the Paco das Escolas, Coimbra’s palatial university square, were three previously palatial townhouses which were falling into disrepair. Setting aside the engineering challenges of reversing decades of neglect, the group were acutely aware of their responsibility to the surrounding architecture – the Palacio Real and the Biblioteca Joanina, two of Portugal’s most-treasured national monuments, are the Sapientia’s close neighbours.

The three buildings became one, with twenty-two guest rooms divided across the now renovated and seamlessly interconnected buildings. The décor is super-clean, bright and white throughout, and layouts of the original buildings have been retained, helping to give each room it’s individual character.

Double rooms are dotted across the whole hotel – some have views of the Biblioteca Joanina, others overlook the patio of the hotel’s own Tasca of the Tias Camellas restaurant. Loft rooms are in the main building – perhaps the most-interesting of the rooms, their lower floor has the bedroom and ensuite, with a living room and fully-equipped kitchenette on a mezzanine above. Junior suites also include a kitchenette – they’re on the upper floor and have wonderful views of either the university tower or Coimbra’s Mondego River. Their floor-to-ceiling glass doors provide direct access to a river view terrace. One-bedroom apartments offer more space than a suite – Superior apartments are the largest of all.

The Sapientia’s crowning glory is its rooftop ‘Cheio de Estrelas’ terrace, with its panoramic view of the sun setting across the meandering Mondego River.