Chalé João Lúcio - 1916

Chalé João Lúcio is located in a pine forest called Pinheiros de Marim, next to the Olhão campsite.
João Lúcio Pousão Pereira was born in Olhão in 1880 into a family of intellectuals. His poetry first appeared in print when he was just 12 years old, and he has since worked on various publications throughout his life. He wrote three books, but it was the second, 'O meu Algarve', published in 1905, that made him one of the Algarve's most famous poets.

He was by all accounts a very sensitive and articulate man, and with a twist at the end of his bushy mustache he certainly had style. After studying law in Coimbra, he returned to the Algarve where his poetic style of speech made him famous for his ability to captivate the court and he is still considered one of the most illustrious lawyers in the region.

João Lúcio Pousão Pereira was also a well-traveled man, who visited many European countries with his family and even went to Morocco. But his life was also marked by moments of tragedy. They say that it was the death of his son in his youth that made him want to seek isolation and build this rather eccentric building in this forest of pine trees.

In 1916 he started building the 'symbolist' Chalé do Marim, a villa hidden in the pine forest of Quinta de Marim. It is a quadrangular building with three floors, without front or back. It consists of four entrances, each with its own meaning, distributed over the four cardinal directions.

The staircase (4 different ones) represents fire, air, earth and water.

Each interior room has a certain symbolism (expressed in the ornaments) and corresponds to a poem.
Because of its exoterism, it is considered a prime example of Symbolist Architecture in Portugal (there is only one example left in Portugal, Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra).

It is located next to the Olhão campsite and is currently in use by the Ecoteca de Olhão. Some of the poet's personal belongings and various documentation have been preserved, which are on display and accessible to the public, for anyone who wants to know more. Definitely worth a visit because of its architectural beauty, uniqueness and natural environment.