In Alfama, this is one of the tallest buildings in the area. Originally from the 19th century, with a sturdy structure and original tiles, it entered the 21st century as if carrying the whole neighborhood on its back. With a shop, a restaurant and twelve apartments, with a postcard view, a tram at the door, and a diverse mix of residents (from Dona Dolores and her parakeets to an Italian digital nomad) it was a shame the building looked tired. Its rehabilitation was thorough: the façade was preserved, but the window frames were renewed, terraces created, and the interior completely updated to meet the demands of today. Throughout the process, tenants, construction, and everyone’s patience had to be carefully managed. In the end, Dona Inês said the ordeal was worth it.
São Vicente is a kind of Alfama soap opera: full of episodes, surprises, and unforgettable minor characters. Now, with the afternoon sun hitting its façade and a new life inside, the building is once again the protagonist. Yet it remains true to its DNA, never trying to appear new. Because in Alfama, time doesn’t disappear, it accumulates, gracefully.
