Pestana Quinta do Arco

Photographing the Pestana Quinta do Arco meant surrendering to the serenity of Madeira’s north coast. This rural tourism unit, in Sítio da Lagoa — Arco de São Jorge, in Santana, lives surrounded by nature, with the Laurissilva laurel forest on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. I devoted myself to capturing the turquoise outdoor pool set against the lush green mountains, in a framing that, to me, sums up the soul of the place: the rare meeting of a carefully tended garden and the island’s wild landscape.

I sought to reveal the intimate, peaceful character of this estate. I photographed the red-roofed villas scattered through the gardens, the celebrated rose garden and the lush vegetation, the wood-ceilinged common lounges and the rooms of serene comfort. I always looked for Madeira’s natural light, which gives the flowers and the stone a warm colour, and I wanted every image to convey the feeling of a peaceful escape, far from the noise of the world.

I completed the series with the details that crown the experience: the generous breakfast, the garden corners and the sweeping views over the valley and the sea. It was a project in which I aimed to honour the warm hospitality and the deep connection of this estate to the Madeiran land — and I hope these photographs invite those who see them to breathe deeply and dream of a stay among roses, mountains and the Atlantic.