StartArt Residency

The experience was simply incredible! The space has a unique energy, surrounded by nature, inspiring creativity and tranquility at the same time. There were days of much exchange, fun, and I left wanting to return already ✨ I recommend it a thousand times!

What an amazing experience of connection with art, collectivity, nature, and with your inner self. This coliving can be classified separately by different aspects, and even getting 5 stars in all of those aspects alone wouldn’t do justice to the whole “package,” which is the full experience. Just by getting there, you feel the peace, welcomed by the project mentor, who is such a great person. Along with him, the cuties, a sweet dog and a not less sweet cat. The house itself is huge, which doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable. You can feel the coziness in every single corner of the house. You really feel at home there. The rooms are so nicely furnished and equipped, the common areas invite you to connect with other people, and the main thing in this whole “house structure” is not even that, but obviously, the art shared in its walls. Everywhere you look, in and outside the house, contains art. Different artists come to the residency and leave their contribution to the place, making it even more meaningful and rich. The nature that surrounds the house is stunning. It brings peace and makes you feel renewed, recharged. There is a river just by the house that leads us to super nice escapes such as waterfalls. We can practice water sports while connecting with nature and other guests. All these experiences are enriched by the close relationship between the project mentor and the guests. He is always guiding and explaining everything we see and experience. At the same time, you can take time for yourself and be at peace to create, meditate, write, or work… and the beauty of this place is also how it’s integrated with the community. The house is like hugged by the community, and everyone is super welcoming and friendly. This coliving can be the perfect spot for digital nomads and those looking for this type of connection, art, collectivity, and self-discovery. I was really impacted by my experience there. And I will come back for sure. Thanks to the staff.

A memorable experience. A perfect environment to relax, enjoy nature, in addition to being a cultural and gastronomic immersion in a remote location but with access to plenty of information and the opportunity to rest the mind and spirit.

As a writer, what I was looking for in a residency was a space to create without disturbance, balanced with meaningful activities and adventures during non-writing times. It was perfect for this. I produced more writing than I expected to. Nutritious meals were provided, the river was nearby and there was no shortage of walking routes for much-needed stretch breaks. But what will stay with me most is the quality of the people that I met and befriended; friendships that will remain for a long time. It is a place to make connections.

I have been on Workaway for a couple of days in a coliving, but time has no rules in this place. I have to say that it was an amazing and important experience to be there. The idea of the project is very touching - it is about being aware of the problems our world struggles with, especially when it comes to global warming and colonialism/neo-colonialism. It was amazing to have the possibility to become part of such an important discussion. The problems that we are facing nowadays are shown on the walls of the coliving, and those murals are just breathtaking. You need to see them on your own. But for me, this place is something more that I can't fully express in words. For me, it is also about the people and friends I met there. That was a wonderful group connected not only by the idea, hard work, and art but especially connected with bonds of friendship. Every moment of laughter and tears (no worries, it is really important to share your feelings, and everyone was so supportive) we shared together was so meaningful for me. I had a feeling of being finally at home. Besides the wonderful people I had the opportunity to meet, I could also spend some time with Gervazio 🐶 and Elton John 🐱 - friends of the house - and the fact that they were there, always ready to be my companions, made me feel even more like being home again. I am so grateful for everyone I could meet there🙏

Honestly, one of the highlights of my summer. I was impressed with the treasure that is nearby in Braga. I went with my friends, and we were extremely well received with delicious vegan food, a professional and very kind team, an immense structure suitable for receiving artists of different expressions, and super beautiful and cozy rooms, all carefully painted with murals by different artists, each with a narrative and discourse behind it. I felt very inspired to create, and it was also a moment of reconnection with myself, surrounded by so much abundant nature. I already want to go back!

Very unique residency, I've never been anywhere like here. There's clearly a lot of heart and attention put into everything, which pays off. Volunteering here was a lot of fun; it felt impossible not to bond with the people and the messages this place puts out. It's a really well-done program.
The food was actually incredible. It was all vegetarian too.
The work was very simple and put together.
Every day, someone would prepare something fun for us to do, and what was prepared was never the same.
Some people staying at the residency would try out workshops and yoga classes for everyone staying there, which was amazing.
There are murals and art everywhere. It is beautiful.
The area is beautiful.
There is plenty of quiet time.
A very cute dog and a very sweet cat live there.
Overall, it's a transformative and fun place. I highly recommend it!

I stayed in a coliving for two weeks, and it was an unforgettable experience.

The host is incredibly welcoming and, in general, the energy of the entire house made me feel comfortable and at home since the very first moment.
Every little detail is taken care of: this coliving is not just a place, but a life project that wants to use art to convey values like environmentalism, anticolonialism, and respect for all human and living beings.

The structure is incredibly big, and every corner is colorful and has a story to tell; it is like a museum, and you will see that during the mural tour of the house: it took hours because every piece of art has a meaning and is rooted in the culture of the artists that made it. While I was listening to the host telling us all those stories, I was really touched.

Good food takes a very important role in all of this: fresh and local ingredients combined in a creative but easy way are the key for a diet that takes into account our impact on the environment as well as our well-being.

I met some beautiful people there, of all ages and walks of life: I had very deep and meaningful conversations and shared some enriching moments.
Every day we went out for adventures: to the local marketplace, to the local pizzeria and bar, to the waterfalls nearby. Plus, the riverside is literally 3 minutes walking; every day I used to go there and take a swim or just enjoy the quiet nature and the stunning landscape around me.
We also had yoga classes at least 3 times per week and movie or board game nights. The day I arrived, we even lit a fire in the fireplace and stood there chatting and sipping good green wine, very typical of that area.

Last but not least, there are two beautiful puppies: the guardian of the house, the dog, and the sweet cat (as you can tell from their names, they are both very funny).

I really want to thank the host for his tireless energy and enthusiasm; he is really caring of everyone's needs and always coming up with new ideas to improve the place and the stays of his guests. This coliving really made my summer, and I will definitely come back very soon!

I came here as a volunteer to help with social media/photography, and I must say I had the best time 🫶
I met so many nice people from all around the world, other volunteers but also artists; everybody connected and got along very well. We are already planning to meet again here at a coliving or somewhere else around the world 💖
Also, the place is wonderful, and there are so many things to do - sunbathe at the river, kayak, visit Braga or Porto!
Thanks a lot to the team who made that experience possible 🙏✨

This isn’t a place to just pass by - this really is a place to stay some time and to be. You get the opportunity to meet amazing people, to share delicious meals, to get inspired by the art in the residency and the beautiful surroundings; especially the river. I highly recommend this place to people that are looking forward to learning about a different and sustainable way of traveling and living and that are open to having a great cultural exchange with people from all over the world! Thank you for this wonderful time at the coliving 🌞🫶