Every place has a story, and Maré Guesthouse is no exception. Long before it became the place you know today, this property was a much-loved family home known as Vivenda Arruda, a place filled with generations of family life, gatherings, traditions and memories, all closely intertwined with the history of Ericeira itself.

As we give this special property a new chapter as Maré Guesthouse, preserving its history and character matters deeply to us. Wherever possible, we have chosen to keep rather than replace. Many of the windows and doors, particularly in the oldest part of the house, are still the originals. They may not always close quite as perfectly as their modern counterparts, but we believe these little imperfections are part of the house’s charm and a reminder of its past. You’ll also find pieces of the family’s original furniture throughout the property, giving new life to things that have been here for generations.

So, we sat down with one of the owners, whose family built the property, to hear his memories of Vivenda Arruda, from life on the old family farm, to summers spent by the sea, to the Ericeira as it once was.