Inspiration

The Visionaire celebrates the visionary king D. João I, who started the Portuguese navigations in the XV century and whose imposing statue sits in front of the apartments. Under his command, and his son Henrique, the Navigator, the Portuguese reached distant shores such as Brazil, Mozambique, India, China and Japan.
Lisbon became the center of the world commerce, trading spices, Chinese porcelain, exotic animals, exquisite silks, unknown fruits and plants, gold and precious stones but also knowledge, myths, scientific and cultural advances, that still last to this day. It was the first truly global city: cosmopolitan, exotic, multi-ethnic and multicultural, open to the sea, commerce and discovery.

The Visionaire apartments are a contemporary take on a merchants’ house of the XVI century, full with hardwoods, tapestries, printed textiles, tiles and pottery, mixing the Portuguese style with African, Asian and oriental influences. We aim to be a starting point to visit the city,  a window to its diversity and contrasts, and a sanctuary to all those travelers and visionaries that visit Lisbon, as they have for 500 years.

Location

Praça da Figueira is the ideal starting point to discover Lisbon, to explore the history and tradition and to experience its diversity and culture, gastronomy and nightlife.
One of the biggest squares in Lisbon, Figueira is surrounded by traditional stores, cafés and ginginha taverns, in walking distance to major monuments and sights such as the Castle, the Cathedral, the Independence palace, Santa Justa Elevator, National Theater, and close to Chiado, Bairro Alto, Alfama and the Tejo river.

Lisbon has been a multicultural, cosmopolitan city since the XVI century, and its diverse sounds and flavours can be experienced in the many Cape Verdean, Mozambican, Brazilian, Goese, Chinese and Indian stores and restaurants in nearby Martim Moniz.

The Visionaire is located just a few meters away from the subway, the 15 and 28 trams, the train station to Sintra, and the bus to the beaches, adding convenience to centrality and making it the perfect choice for the urban dwellers that visit Lisbon.

Amenities

The Visionaire boasts 18 apartments, in a newly renovated XVIII century building overlooking Figueira square, with views to the castle and the river.
The apartments’ furniture and furnishings provide a warm and comfortable stay, with hardwoods, pottery, tiles, rugs and printed textiles referencing what would have been a XVI century merchants’ house.

All the apartments have elevator access, air conditioning, fully equipped kitchens, full bathrooms, king size beds and comfortable cotton linen and towels. Walls and windows are soundproofed and there is there is daily housekeeping, at no extra charge.

The frontdesk, on the first floor, operates from 9am to 11pm and there is an emergency line available 24/7.

There’s also a Library where guests can relax, read and have a drink, a laundry room and a luggage storage area, permanently accessible to guests.

The apartments

All apartments have:

COMFORT
Air conditioning | Cotton sheets, towels and other linen | Orthopedic mattresses

ENTERTAINMENT
Free Wi-Fi | 32” LCD TV | Cable TV | Bluetooth speaker

EQUIPMENT
Fully equipped kitchen | Fridge | Microwave | Cooker | Dishwasher | Toaster | Kettle | Washer dryer (common area) | Iron and ironing board | Hairdryer | Full length mirror | Safe | ‘The Visionaire’ furniture designed by Pedrita

BABY BUNDLE (on request)
Cot | Push chair | High chair | Baby bath tub | Changing mat | Toy box

FACILITIES
24h access | Elevator | Lounge and library area |  Luggage storage with 24h access | Laundry room | Public parking (adjacent)

The Visionaire Suite

2 pax | square, city and castle views

VISIONAIRE SUITE | 2 pax | Open plan | Kitchen | 50 sq meters | 1 double bed | 1 bathroom | Kitchen | Small balcony | City and castle views

Two bedroom apartments

4 or 6 pax | standard or city and castle views

2 BEDROOM APARTMENT | 4 or 6 pax | Living room | 2 bedroom | 90 sq meters | 2 double beds and 2 single beds | 2 bathrooms | Open kitchen | Facing city and castle or quiet street

One bedroom apartments

2 or 4 pax | standard or city and castle views

1 BEDROOM APARTMENT | 2 or 4 pax | Living room | 1 bedroom | 60 to 80 sq meters | 1 double bed and 2 single beds | 1 bathroom | Open kitchen | Facing city and castle or quiet street

Attic studios

3 pax

STUDIO | 2 or 3 pax | Living room | 1 bedroom | 50 sq meters | 1 double bed and 1 single bed | 1 bathroom | Open kitchen | 5th floor | Slanted ceilings and one window facing square or quiet street

The public spaces

FRONT DESK
Located on the first floor, the front desk is available from 9 am to 11 pm, to help you check in and check out, answer questions, make reservations or give advice that may make your stay more enjoyable. There is an emergency line available 24/7.

LIBRARY ROOM
Furnished with antiques and exotic pieces, the Library is a room to read, rest and relax, overlooking the busy Figueira square. Coffee, tea and biscuits are permanently available for guests.

LUGGAGE STORAGE
The luggage storage is a shared space where guests can deposit their bags if they arrive early or departure late, and is permanently accessible.

LAUNDRY ROOM
For extended stays, or if you need to do your laundry during your stay at the Visionaire, there is a self-service laundry room equipped with washer-dryers, iron and ironing board.

 

Special offers for direct bookings

The story of Ganda, the rhinoceros

In 1514, Ganda the rhino, was sent to King Manuel I of Portugal as a diplomatic gift by Sultan Muzaffar Shah II of Cambay (present day Gujarat, India). It was the first rhino in Europe since Roman times and people flocked to the main square of Lisbon to see its arrival. Roman historian Pliny had written that rhinos and elephants were bitter enemies and, eager to test this theory, the King organized a fight against an elephant from its menagerie. The nervous elephant fled in panic as soon as the rhino approached, confirming its status and strength.

Despite Ganda’s triumph, King Manuel decided to send it to the Pope in order to consolidate his prestige. Unfortunately, the boat sank on a sudden storm off the coast of Italy and Ganda, shackled to the ship, was unable to escape and perished.

Ganda’s fame would last longer than his journey, though. Its memory lives on thanks to a famous 1515 print by the artist Albrecht Dürer, The Rhinocerus, based on descriptions found in letters sent by Portuguese merchants.

It would go on to become one of the most famous images in history and Ganda, the Rhinocerus, remains the most famous animal of the renaissance.

500 years later, we are committed to the preser­ vation of this magnificent endangered animal.

The Visionaire proudly supports

Location and contacts

The Visionaire Apartments

The Lisbonaire Apartments

ADDRESS

The Visionaire Apartments
Praça da Figueira 5, Lisboa

CONTACTS

Tel: +351 912 769 797
Fax: +34 917 903 558
guests@visionaireapartments.com

GENERAL MANAGER

Miguel Fernandes
manager@visionaireapartments.com

DISTANCES

City centre – 0km
Airport – 8km
Belém – 7km
Beaches – 20 km (Caparica), 30km (Cascais)
Sintra – 30km

TRANSPORTATION

Metro – Restauradores station (10 m)
Train to Sintra – Estação do Rossio (100 m)
Bus – Aerobus (20m)
Tram to Belém – 15 (50m)
Taxi from airport – between 10 e 15€
Private transfer – 35€ (1-3 pax), 45€ (4-7 pax)