Exhibition “The invention of Estoril: History in photography (1914-1955)”
Based on the Hotel Palácio's collection of 2 005 previously unpublished gelatine glass negatives, this photographic exhibition presents the history of the building of Estoril as Portugal's most iconic tourist destination, between 1914 and 1955.
In 1913, Fausto de Figueiredo and Augusto Carreira de Sousa bought Quinta do Viana, in Santo António do Estoril, an extensive pine forest overlooking the sea, which housed two spa buildings and a small hotel. They then hired the architect Henri Martinet to plan a “maritime, climatic, thermal and sporting resort” with an extraordinary set of collective leisure facilities, which they presented to the public the following year. The extent and monumentality of this Parisian-style project reflected the enormous ambition of its promoters, which would soon transform Estoril into one of the municipality's most powerful brand images.
The almost immediate success of the venture, even if not entirely realized, is attested to by the photographs from the Hotel Palácio collection, now on display at Casa Sommer, following a campaign of restoration, organization, description and digitization. Although the overwhelming majority of the negatives have lost some of their emulsion, the core of the images is in good condition, almost miraculously preserving the information contained in the precious collection on show here for the first time.
OPENING: October 12th, 24th at 4pm
More information: 214 815 344 (national landline) | Working days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Organization: Cascais City Council