History and Design

History and Design
The Quinta da Fábrica building

In the year 1874, Ayres Augusto Quaresma d’Almeida set the first stone of the building that would later become a paper mill, meant to be a high-quality paper producer. The building was, at the time, one of the best of its kind in the district, occupying 648m² in a terrain idea for its activity.

The mill produced several types of paper, of different kinds and qualities such as foolscap, wrapping paper, squared, lined, white or blue; being renowned not only by its quality but also its polished appearance.

After a great storm in May 1876 which caused the water levels of the Dueça river to rise dramatically, the mill became flooded all the way up to the second floor, forcing its workers to seek refuge in the upper floors. A large part of the building’s contents was washed away by the water, with much of its machinery becoming unusable.

In July 1877, the mill resumed its operations of a workforce of 100 people, reconverting into a fibre mill that focused on the production of yarn and its derivates, with the purpose of becoming a supplier to the tapestry industry in Espinhal.

By 1888 the mill had fallen into decline, forcing it to shut down production. It was later sold to a limited company constituted as the Companhia Fabril da Ponte do Espinhal (Ponte do Espinhal Manufacturing Company), simultaneously focusing on the production of textiles such as linen and wool, and paper-derived products. The paper manufacturing section remained in operation, albeit with a much smaller number of workers, until 1936. It was later sold one last time.

The building remained unused from its purchase until the construction of the hotel, with only its exterior architecture being preserved.

Entrance Door

The transport of big machinery required several adjustments to the door frame of the main entryway, changes which can still be observed to this day.

Noria and Propelling Force

The noria is a contemporary reconstruction of what is thought to have been the first power source used in this building. This noria was placed in the same location as its original counterpart, maintaining the original metal axle.

Lift

The lifting of heavy materials during production required the utilization of a counterweight and pulley system. An internal ramp system was used to transport heavy materials to the first floor, with animals such as cows and sheep climbing up the ramp and down into a platform, serving as counterweight. Four of the original stones which supported this system can still be observed on the eastern wall of the building.

Steam Machinery

The structure which currently hosts the Tabernae Bar was erected upon the introduction of steam machinery, serving as the engine room that powered the operations in the building. It is still possible to observe, by the noria, the orifices that served as supported for the steam-powered transmission belts.

The Name

"Duecitânia" was the name chosen for the project, honouring both Classical Antiquity and the main geographical element of the property, the Dueça river, with its meaning standing for "Lands of the Dueça". Its location in a region known for its Roman heritage, combined with the hotel facilities, is sure to provide a unique cultural experience.

Access Bridge across the Dueça River

The Romans were the first to engage in the building of large-scale bridges, consolidating their architectural expertise with the use of innovative architectural elements such as the arch.

Front Desk Panel

Located behind the front desk, this panel presents most of the symbology found across the hotel. Constituted by small tesserae, it is reminiscent of the classical Roman mosaics, a timeless paragon of this art form. In this panel one is able to find several graphical elements such as the SPQR abbreviation, the Pegasus, the Greek frieze (in the pattern of a swastika), Etruscan vases, oil lamps, etc.

Graphical Elements

The graphical elements that constitute the base of the patterns found across the hotel are inspired by the geometric motifs found in the Roman Villa of Rabaçal. The pars urbana (group of buildings) of this Roman villa presents a central octagonal peristyle (courtyard), with its adjacent rooms radiating from it. The construction and mosaics found in this villa indicate that this was a site constructed with no economical restraints, singling this villa out from other similar buildings found in the Iberian Peninsula.
The significance of its 24 columns is uncertain to historians, who theorize it may represent the 24 hours of the day or the 12 zodiacal signs.

The acronym SPQR

SPQR: Senātus Populusque Romanus meaning the Senate and People of Rome, as sovereign bodies of the Roman Republic. In the period of the republic, the Romans believed that all authority came from the people and as such the people of Rome meant all the government.

Pegasus

Pegasus is a winged horse, symbolizing extraordinary acts and imagination, born from the blood spilled by Medusa. It was domesticated by Athena and lived in Mount Parnassus, which was also frequented by the Muses, daughters of Zeus. Due to its grandiosity, it was chosen as the symbol of Duecitânia.

Greek Frieze

This type of frieze is commonly seen in Greek architecture, with ours representing the chain of swastikas that are found in the border of the triclinium panel of the Roman Villa of Rabaçal.

Etruscan Vases

The Etruscan-inspired art is reminiscent of the civilization bearing the same name that originated in Etruria, in what is now modern-day Tuscany in Central Italy. This civilization found its artistic peak between the 8th and 2nd centuries BCE, with its artists being artisans of distinguished ability who could produce high-quality pieces from materials such as terracotta, clay, bronze, metal, gold, silver and ivory, from which jewellery and an exquisite black ceramic, known as Bucchera, were made. Their art left a long-lasting legacy in Roman culture, here honoured by its characteristic vases.

Oil Lamp

Used for lighting indoors, it was filled with oil and was often used alongside candela, candles made from beeswax or animal fat. Being the most common lighting appliance in use at the time, they were mass-produced in several ovens and were heavily distributed across the Empire.

The Marble

In big Roman houses (Domus and villae), marble was the most common building material for their interiors, representing both power and grandiosity, something only achievable by those of high societal standing. It was thus chosen as one of the main design elements of our hotel, found on its walls and floors.

Trajan’s Column

The representation of Trajan’s Column that can be found at HD|Duecitânia Design Hotel shows numerous relief figures which picture the history of the Roman Empire across time, using an octagonal shape. The real Trajan’s Column is a monument located in Rome, designed by the architect Apollodorus of Damascus under the command of the Roman Emperor Trajan himself, a tribute to the military conquests in Dacia. Showing around 2,500 figures, it provided historians with valuable information regarding the organization of Roman armies, the weapons that were used, as well as the war tactics and methods used by the Barbarians (such as fortresses, ships, arms, among others).

The Hippocrene Spring

According to legend, Pegasus inadvertently created the Hippoccrene Spring after kicking a rock with his hoof. The spring allegedly would grant inspiration to those who drank from it. When tired, the Muses would bathe in its waters and later dance and sing around Mount Helicon. The name Hippocrene derives from the combination of hippo (horse) and crene (spring), meaning "Horse’s Fountain". It is recreated, in octagonal shape, in our gardens.

The Farm

With the objective of investing in a diversified cultural offer, it is our aim to develop a biological interactive farm with animals. In the remaining 14 hectares of land that are part of the Mill Farm, we have planned the reforestation of the current forest area with the introduction of autochthonous species such as the Portuguese Oak, Cork Oak, and Holm Oak.

History and Design