The historic building began to be built in 1901 as the New Hotel Quinta do Pezo to welcome those seeking healing through the thermal waters of Melgaço. Over the years, especially during the first half of the 20th century, it became one of the biggest local symbols, attracting guests looking for luxury and sophistication.
O OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo it rose from the past on October 1, 2025, preserving the early 20th century aesthetics characteristic of the old building but combining it with current comfort, large spaces and the green setting typical of this area of Minho.
OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo
Located 4 km from the center of Melgaço, it offers 60 rooms (from €70.50) of different types, supported by a spa equipped with a gym, sauna and indoor pool. Outside, the garden spaces host an outdoor swimming pool and areas for enjoying the region’s good air. In addition to a restaurant and bar, OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo also has meeting rooms adapted to different types of events. It also has direct access to Melgaço Hot Springs.
Facing the future, but with the past always present, the “new 4-star hotel, built from scratch but respecting the early 20th century facade, combines history, contemporary design and a privileged location next to the Melgaço Hot Springs and Parque do Pezo”, can be read in a statement sent by the hotel chain that highlights “comfort, relaxation and memorable experiences”.
Wars, Roaring 20s and the arrival of electricity
OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo
It went through two major world wars, the pneumonic flu pandemic and the “roaring 20s”. Still in 1919, construction began on one of the wings of the thermal spa. “There were 10 enamelled iron bathtubs and a shower room, with two steam boilers to heat the bath water, according to the report of the visit carried out in 1923 by the Mineral Water Inspectorate to the resort”, says the Radio Vale do Minhoadding that although the work was only completed in 1924, “two years earlier, Melgaço was already a tourist destination of excellence”.
OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo
The radio quotes a card passed from hand to hand as a form of advertising that highlighted the luxury and sumptuousness of the unit:
“Are you going to Águas de Melgaço? You should stay at the Grande Hotel do Peso, which is the most recommended in this resort (…) it has running water in all the rooms (…) it is the one that offers the best hygiene conditions. The most select society that usually frequents these waters, gives preference to this hotel, as it is the one that offers the best conditions for the well-being of its guests”reads one of the advertisements published cited by radio Minhota.
With the arrival of electricity in the early 1930s, “There were parties until late at night”, he describes.
Later, with the search for other therapeutic and healing methods and sun and beach destinations, the unit began to decline, from the 1950s onwards, until it became a ruin.
OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo
It is now reborn with an architectural project signed by architect Luis Alves with the collaboration of the company 1488 – Construção Sustentável and the engineering projects under the responsibility of the company SPRENPLAN, with the work coordination being carried out by the company QUEIRAS & XEDAS, Lda.
The investment in OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo (Avenida do Peso, 1000, Peso, Melgaço. Tel. 934100886) which “is reborn facing the future, but with the past always present” cost around 7 million euros.
This is the seventh hotel from the Spanish group OCA in Portugal. Currently, the hotel chain also manages six units in Porto.
OCA Grande Hotel do Pezo