The history behind every celebration

In the heart of Vairão, on the remains of the ancient hillfort known as Castro do Boi, stands the Casa do Alferes: a family house that has seen generations come and go.

The house takes its name from its founder, an alferes (ensign) of the local militia, a post of standing in the community that made him responsible for the defence of the territory. The land itself had been linked to the nuns of the Convent of São Salvador de Vairão since 1791.

The year 1866 is cast in the original iron gates, which still welcome guests at the entrance today.

Austere beauty, built to last

Set on fertile, well-drained land, the estate is a walled property in the rural style of the Maia region, enclosed by high stone walls. The three-storey main house keeps the austere beauty of traditional architecture and remains a symbol of resilience and authenticity.

Its history shows in every detail: in the layout of the stables and storerooms, in the threshing floor and the wine cellar, in a garden designed to the taste of an emigrant returned from Brazil and, above all, in the great round central arch that linked the road to the heart of the family home.

The first, more modest farmhouse no longer exists. The present house remains a genuine example of the farmhouses that shaped the landscape of the old Terra da Maia, and it still stands out in the municipality of Vila do Conde.

“Heritage, more than a family’s possession, belongs to everyone.”

Historic spaces, reinvented for today

Since 1995 the estate has opened its gates to weddings and events. Seven hectares of gardens, a lake and three halls now welcome up to 300 guests, with one wedding per day and the party going on until 5am, about 20 minutes from Porto airport.

The spaces carry their history with them, and each celebration adds a new chapter.