Comporta Costa da Comporta | |
|---|---|
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| Country | Portugal |
| District | Setúbal District |
| Municipalities | |
Comporta, also known as theComporta Coast (Portuguese:Costa da Comporta),[1] is a region in the northwestern coast of theAlentejo, inPortugal, south of theLisbon metropolitan area. Comporta is one of the most exclusive summer destinations in Europe,[2] which has earned the region the nickname as "the Hamptons of Europe".[3][4][5][6] The region, which takes its name from thevillage of Comporta, spans the coastal areas of the Alentejano municipalities ofAlcácer do Sal andGrândola.[3]
Comporta has become a notable design center and home to a community of famous designers and artists,[7] including fashion designerChristian Louboutin, architectPhilippe Stark, designerPierre Yovanovitch, painterJason Martin, amongst others.[8] Comporta is associated with its so-called "Comporta Style" (Estilo Comporta inPortuguese), the local architectural and design style characterized by traditionalAlentejan architecture,Bohemianism, and contemporary,ecological design.[6]
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The history of the region of Comporta is intimately linked to the history of theHerdade da Comporta ("Estate of Comporta" in English), a massive agricultural estate formally constituted in 1836, with origins in the 12th century, which originally consisted of the majority of the land and villages in the modern region of Comporta, made up of the coastal areas of theAlcácer do Sal andGrândola municipalities.[9][10] The area has traditionally been home tosalt works, fishing communities, andrice fields.
In 1991, after more than 150 years of operating as a purely agricultural estate, famous for its rice production, the Herdade da Comporta was reconstituted to develop its vast properties into an exclusive summer destination-oriented towardsultra high-net-worth individuals, centered on design andsustainability, while continuing to operate as an agricultural estate and as steward to the large swathes of protected natural land owned and managed by the Herdade.[9][10]
Initially, the Herdade attracted high-net-worth personalities to the area through personal connections with theEspírito Santobanking family, which owned the Herdade. During this time, the Espírito Santo family invited high profile celebrities as guests such asPrince Albert of Monaco andPrincess Caroline of Hanover.[4]
Following the collapse of theBanco Espírito Santo in 2014, courts ordered that the Espírito Santo family put the Herdade up for sale. In 2019,Paula Amorim, heiress to Portugal's largest fortune, concluded the purchase of the controlling share of the Herdade.[11]
Comporta is located on the northwestern coast of theAlentejo, about an hour south ofLisbon. The majority of land in the region is protected from development as anature preserve,[2] while a significant portion is protected for traditional agricultural uses, such asrice fields andsalt ponds. Restrictive development regulations were installed purposefully by the Herdade da Comporta and the municipal governments to both preserve the natural landscape of the region and ensure its exclusivity.
The region of Comporta is located within 2concelhos (civil parishes) within the Alentejan municipalities ofAlcácer do Sal andGrândola:Comporta,Carvalhal. The following towns and villages are located within the region:
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The development of the region by the Herdade da Comporta into a high-end destination in the 1990s, under the leadership of theEspírito Santobanking family,[2] intentionally sought to attract notable artists, designers, and celebrities to the area, with the aim of building an exclusive artistic community for thejet-set.[12] Notable artists and designers that reside in the region include fashion designerChristian Louboutin,[8] architectPhilippe Starck,[6][8] painterJason Martin,[6] and art curatorMarc-Olivier Wahler,[8] among others.[3][13]
Several shops cater to tourists, selling locally made scarves and hippie-chic dresses. Self-catering is assumed, with caviar, pink Himalayan salt, imported cheese and French Champagne being sold. Bars with red umbrellas advertise Sagres beer.[13]
Comporta hosted an edition of theWings for Life World Run in 2014.
Christian Louboutin shot his 2013 collection at the Cais Palafítico in Carrasqueira.[14]
British painterJason Martin established two art studios in Comporta in 2018, one in the village of Melides and the other in the middle of a natural reserve within the Herdade da Comporta.[15]
The Comporta style, sometimes known as "Hippie Chic",[6] is a local architectural and design style, developed by various architects and designers since the 1990s. The style is heavily influenced by traditionalvernacular architecture of the Alentejo,ecological design, and regional arts and artisanry.[8][12] Typical motifs includethatched roofing,straw plaiting, andArraiolos rugs.
