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 Placed in an area of the city gifted with greenery and interesting museums, the main feature of this lodging is its recreation of the best years experienced by the Portuguese, during the reign of king Manuel I, in the beginning of the 16th century. As soon as you step into the reception, you will understand why the name was chosen, honouring the leader of the country`s great discoveries around the world.
However, if you look closely at the logo of the inn, you will already have an idea of what all of this is about: the armillary sphere, in golden shades, is the main item of the design. A symbol of the country`s success around the undiscovered world, and the rich years that followed this period. |
 The Hotel Dom Manuel I was built in 1973 and went through a total renovation in 2003: in spite of the incorporation of all the modern facilities desirable for a comfortable stay, it never lost its original charm, granted by the details belonging to the manueline style. This particular decoration is a landmark in Lisbon, with all sort of attractions (that you will surely visit during your stay) having it as a permanent feature.
This sumptuous style is also known as Portuguese Late Gothic, and its main characteristic is the abundance of ornaments from the sea and foreign lands. Between 1490 and 1520, Portugal knew its glorious years thanks to the voyages of adventurers such as Vasco da Gama and Pedro Alvares Cabral around the coast of Africa, Brasil and the Far East. Many of the items they would bring back from their exotic trips would then become part of buildings, churches and works of art. |
 As king Manuel I ruled while this style developed, the Viscount of Porto Seguro Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen chose to name it after him in a description of the Jerónimos Monastery that he wrote in 1842. In this four-star hotel that also renders him honors, you will find the armillary sphere, also known as spherical astrolabe, in the lamps at the lobby: this element that shows the movement of stars around the Earth used to be a valuable tool for the Rennaissance voyages around the unknown planet, and it soon became the personal emblem of king Manuel I.
At the reception, various cartographic pictures hang from the walls, while a uniquely carved wooden staircase seems to govern this ample entrance to the comfort and history of this inn. Plants also play an important role in this common area, a detail that has a lot to do with these manueline roots: the style that marked the transition from Late Gothic to Renaissance in Portugal would include many botanical elements, from laurel branches to oak leaves, acorns, and thistles. This concern for greenery in permanent contact with the guest is related to the particular location of the Hotel Dom Manuel I, just half a block from Jardim Calouste Gulbenkian. |
 The inn belongs to a new area in Lisbon, known as the new "Bancino" or business section, boasting parks, museums and El Corte Inglés, a really big department store that belongs to one of the most prestigious shopping chains in the world.
Anyway, the historical centre of the city is at an easy access from the hotel, because only 300 metres from the front door you will find the S. Sebastiao metro station, and the Central Train Station is also in the nearby area.
The hotel Dom Manuel I offers a buffet breakfast and a free connection to the Internet, and makes personal attention to the guests a constant challenge. |
 The bar inside the inn can prepare drinks, toasts and the traditional coffee or tea for a break after your tours. But for dining or lunch the staff will be pleased to recommend the best options only steps from the hotel entrance.
This care for visitors will be perfectly evident once you enter any of the 64 rooms of the hotel: a nicely arranged bouquet with toilet items and a bottle of mineral water welcome you on a silver tray placed on the working desk, right in front of the bed. Soft pastel hues are ideally combined with dark wood, just like the one dominating the reception, guaranteeing a cosy ambiance. |
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