13/05/2026
“Pessoas da Quinta” — uma série de pequenas entrevistas com as pessoas por detrás de cada detalhe. Aquelas que moldam a forma como a Quinta se sente, todos os dias.
Através das suas rotinas, histórias e experiências, vamos apresentar-vos as pessoas que dão vida a este lugar — da cozinha aos jardins, da casa à experiência dos hóspedes. Fiquem connosco — mal podemos esperar para que os conheçam!
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People of Quinta — a series of short interviews with the people behind every detail. The ones who shape how Quinta feels, every single day.
Through their routines, stories and experience, we’ll introduce you to the humans who bring this place to life — from the kitchen to the gardens, from the house to the guest experience.
Maria Lopes
Guest Relations Manager
❔How was it growing up in Ponte de Lima — what do you remember most about this place from your childhood?
“Growing up in Moreira do Lima was wonderful.
I remember days that seemed to pass slowly. Happy memories filled with unique sounds, scents, and textures… I remember the freshness of the mountain water in summer and the comforting warmth of home in winter. I remember the joy of people working in the fields and the unmistakable taste of fruit freshly picked from the orchard…”
❔How was it living in Lisbon after growing up in the countryside?
“It was a necessary change and not a particularly difficult one, as I was still very young when my family moved.
Having the opportunity to study in Lisbon and live away from home was very important. At times, I found myself far outside my comfort zone, and I also had the chance to work in Africa and witness realities and contrasts I would never have known otherwise. I am deeply grateful for those experiences.”
❔You spent many years working in hospitality and guest relations in Lisbon and the Algarve. What did those experiences teach you?
“I had the opportunity to work in very different properties across different regions of the country. I learned that empathy is the key word. At the end of the day, everything works better when we are more empathetic towards one another.”
❔What brought you back to Ponte de Lima?
“My wish was always to return to this place. When the opportunity arose, I did not hesitate: here, I truly feel at home. This is my favourite place in the world!”
❔When you first arrived at Vinte, what did you see in it — before it became what it is today?
“I must admit that when I first visited Vinte-Quinta, I thought everything was very beautiful, but I did not immediately realise just how special it could become. Very quickly, I gained that awareness, and even today I continue to be surprised by some detail — the colours, the sounds, the fragrances… It is, without a doubt, a truly special place.”
❔When a guest arrives at Vinte, what do you think about in that very first moment?
“When guests arrive at the Quinta, I always wish for the same thing: that while they are here, they experience truly happy days. And when they return home, I hope they remember just how happy life can be.”
❔You know this place better than anyone. What do you most enjoy sharing with guests about it?
“Above all, I love sharing the story of how the owners came to Ponte de Lima and transformed Quinta da Boavista into this unique retreat of wellbeing — inspired by a series of remarkable events connected to the number ‘Twenty’.”
