The hotel is set over the Praia da Rocha cliff with direct access to the beach.
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It was built in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, along with the area’s historical chalets.
“Our Lady of Sorrows Villa”
The Original Project
It was built to serve as the private home of António Júdice de Magalhães Barros, a local fishing and canning industry businessman (1879-1960) and it was inaugurated in February of 1918 in a ceremony that included the presence of the President of the Portuguese Republic at the time, Sidónio Pais, as the guest of honor. It was then called "Our Lady of Sorrows Villa", and in it, Magalhães de Barros’ five daughters grew up and it was the stage of many memorable events, including visits by artists and politicians.
In 1934, Henrique Bivar de Vasconcelos, the original owner’s cousin, turned it into a hotel. And the Bela Vista was born, the first hotel in the Algarve.
Even before becoming an official hotel, Bela Vista welcomed as guests families from Andalusia, fleeing from the Spanish Civil War.
Bela Vista’s many honourable guests, include personalites such as Sidónio Pais, King Humberto of Italy, Fulgêncio Baptista, the Counts of Barcelona and the Brazilian President, Juscelino de Oliveira.
A special mention to Finland’s war hero Baron Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim, whose picture and letter of appreciation to the hotel are placed on top of our piano. The Marshal of Finland stayed at the hotel recovering from a period of poor health.
One of the most remarkable eras of the Hotel Bela Vista was during World War II. Portugal was politically neutral during that period and served as an intelligence exchange site and the Bela Vista was a privileged site for meetings of spies and messengers
