Pousada Mosteiro de Amares — Architecture & Hospitality Photography in Amares, Bouro

The Pousada Mosteiro de Amares occupies the former Monastery of Santa Maria do Bouro, a Cistercian abbey with origins in the 12th century, set between Braga and the Gerês mountains in northern Portugal. It is one of the most celebrated examples of Portuguese heritage rehabilitation: the conversion, designed by architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, made use of the ruin’s own stones to create a hotel where history and contemporary design coexist in perfect tension.

For this project, I sought to translate that dialogue between old and new into images. I photographed the granite façades, the arches and the cloisters that hold centuries of history, but also the suite interiors, where avant-garde furniture contrasts with the sobriety of the stone. The light that crosses the openings and traces the centuries-old textures was my main ally.

I also documented the pool overlooking the landscape, the leisure areas and the cuisine of the house — served in the restaurant set within the monastery’s former kitchens. The result is a series that celebrates the Pousada Mosteiro de Amares as a unique destination, where you sleep inside history with all the comfort of a luxury hotel.