Historical Background

The building now known as the Hotel Parque was built in 1910 for the Portuguese-Brazilian emigrant António Rosa who had made a fortune in Brazil. 
The design is attributed to the Brazilian architect José Venceslau de Oliveira. 
Originally constructed as a luxury residence, it later became Pensão Rosa, and then evolved into the Hotel Parque, one of the more emblematic hotels in São Martinho do Porto. 
Architecturally it combines elements of Art Nouveau, Art Deco, chalet and Belle-Époque styles — a rather distinctive mixture for the region. 
The hotel ceased operations in 1956.  After the 1950s it went through decades of abandonment, with various attempted renewals that never fully materialised. By the 1980s it was essentially vacant. 

The Fire Incident

On the afternoon of 21 January 2024 at approximately 16:35, a fire broke out in the old Hotel Parque building. 
The blaze started in the upper rear section of the building — the roof/attic area — and spread rapidly. Fire-fighters reported that the presence of abundant combustible materials (mattresses, carpets, trash) in the long-abandoned structure made suppression much harder. 
Investigations by the regional police (Polícia Judiciária) are underway, as there were signs of possible human involvement (arson) in the origin of the fire. 
Local authorities from the Câmara Municipal de Alcobaça expressed hope that the fire would not render the building irrecoverable. 

What Might Happen Next?

Given its historic character and municipal interest designation, several scenarios are plausible for the building’s future:

• Restoration-Redevelopment: There is potential for the building to be stabilised, cleaned up and restored — possibly converted into a boutique hotel, cultural centre, or mixed-use development (residential + commercial). The municipal interest status gives impetus for heritage-sensitive treatments.
• Partial Demolition + Redevelopment: If structural damage from the fire proves too great, parts of the building (especially the roof and upper floors) may need demolition, followed by redevelopment that retains the façade or key historic elements.
• Dereliction & Decay: Unfortunately, given many years of abandonment and the new fire damage, the risk remains that the building may continue to deteriorate, becoming a hazard or eyesore unless a strong investment and plan are secured.
• Heritage ‘Stabilisation’: A more modest outcome could be the site being stabilised in its damaged state (roof removed, structure secured) and left as an historic ruin/public landmark, with interpretive signage, rather than full commercial reuse.

Given the strong local interest in preserving the legacy of this building, combined with its strategic location in a popular coastal tourist area (São Martinho do Porto is in the Oeste region of Portugal) there is a good chance the positive restoration scenario will be pursued. The key obstacles are financing, structural integrity (post-fire) and obtaining planning/heritage approvals.

Why It Matters

The Hotel Parque is more than just an old building: it symbolises the golden age of seaside tourism on Portugal’s Silver Coast, the return of emigrants like António Rosa, and early 20th-century architectural ambition outside of major cities. Its loss or restoration will affect both the urban fabric and collective memory of São Martinho do Porto.