A Conversation with Santiago Moreira da Silva about Herdade da Matinha in the Alentejo

The first time we visited Herdade da Matinha was in 2015. Nestled in the Alentejo, near the coast, this authentic rural farmhouse hotel was one of the first we featured on JO&SO. We are forever grateful for how welcome Alfredo and Mónica made us feel, their support for our project, and the good memories we created there.

During that visit, we interviewed Mónica who shared how she and Alfredo turned an abandoned countryside house into Herdade d Matinha. From moving in without electricity to hosting their first guests by candlelight, their journey was rooted in love for simplicity, nature, and creating a home that could be shared with others.

Fast forward to November 2024, nine years later, and we found ourselves returning, this time for a little sister-bonding holiday. An Instagram post about a yoga retreat at Matinha caught our eye, and we thought it would be the perfect excuse to revisit this special place. The tranquillity of the Alentejo, combined with the farmhouse’s cosy interiors and home-cooked meals, made it an ideal spot to recharge.

During this stay, we discovered that Santiago, one of Alfredo and Mónica’s sons, had recently returned from Australia and, alongside his brother Mateus, was now taking over the reins of the family business.

Inspired by this new chapter, we thought it would be the perfect opportunity to hear Santiago's side of the story and his vision for the future.

‍

“After spending my whole childhood at Matinha, it was very important for me to leave and learn a bit about the outside world.”

– SANTIAGO, HERDADE DA MATINHA

What was it like growing up at Herdade da Matinha?

We were three boys on a big, open property, with the nearest town only accessible by car or bike. The beach was about 20 minutes away.

In our free time, we’d ride bikes and build big jumps (and crash a lot), make treehouses, or fight with each other. On weekends, mom and dad would drop us off early at the surf school shack on the beach and wouldn’t pick us up until after sunset.

When I was 14, I failed in school, and that earned me my first job at our restaurant—washing dishes in the morning and running food at night.

‍

When we first visited Herdade da Matinha nine years ago, you must have been about 18 and had just moved to Lisbon. You went on to study hospitality there, gained some work experience, and then spent a couple of years living and working in Australia. Was it always part of the plan to return and join the family business?

After spending my whole childhood at Matinha, it was very important for me to leave and learn a bit about the outside world. I went on to study hospitality management and worked at two places that really shaped me as the professional that I am now. The first was Memmo Príncipe Real, a five-star, 40-room hotel in the heart of Lisbon, created by Rodrigo Machaz, a very good hotelier. The second was the Ritz-Carlton at the beautiful property of Penha Longa.

At these two hotels, I learned a lot about service standards and customer relations. But most of all I gained what I was lacking, which was an outside perspective of Matinha and understanding where it fits in the market. Our flaws and strengths also became more clear to me.

Later, in Australia, I joined a few interesting hospitality projects, but the one that really changed the way I see our industry was Arimia. Located in the native Margaret River bushland, this off-the-grid, farm-to-table fine dining restaurant taught me so much. I’ve definitely brought its values back home. 

‍

"When I was 14, I failed in school, and that earned me my first job at our restaurant—washing dishes in the morning and running food at night.”

– SANTIAGO, HERDADE DA MATINHA

You’ll now be running Herdade da Matinha with your brother, Mateus. As the next generation in this family-run farm, what do you hope to carry forward from the past, and what new traditions are you hoping to bring in?

One thing we strongly agree on carrying forward from the past is sharing our passion for this land. It’s about the simple appreciation of the nature that surrounds us because that’s our most valuable asset. Everything we’ve built—and continue to build—is just a complement, allowing us to share this place with more people.

Looking to the future, as we’ve grown into this “big” company with around 30 team members, we believe it’s essential to develop a company culture that everyone can recognise and identify with. This is the only way to bring out the best in every individual and achieve the best results.

What would you say are going to be the biggest challenges and rewards of running Herdade da Matinha?

The biggest challenges remain the same and exist across the whole industry, which are human resources. Throughout Matinha’s evolution, we have learnt so much about people and how to find a spot for every single different mind that comes aboard. When we succeed, it is also the best reward!

‍

Herdade da Matinha has planted an impressive 55,000 trees on its land. Could you tell us a bit more about the Matinha Re-Gen programme?

We now call it the Re-Gen Programme, but really, it’s the Herdade da Matinha programme, because the whole purpose of us being here is to give this land the support it needs to heal itself. When our family arrived here in the 1990s, there were no trees, and the soil was exhausted from extensive grain farming. The main focus became very clear—to plant trees!

Now, almost 30 years later, we can see the results in every corner of the property. The plants are thriving, native wildlife has returned, and the landscape has transformed from brown to green. We’ve also been measuring these results and tracking the progress, which we share on our sustainability website matinha.org.

“When our family arrived here in the 1990s, there were no trees, and the soil was exhausted from extensive grain farming.”

– SANTIAGO, HERDADE DA MATINHA

Are there any experiences you think guests shouldn’t miss while staying at Herdade da Matinha?

Many of our guests arrive exhausted from a busy life in the city and really need to decompress, so most of them end up not even leaving the property during their entire stay. For those, I recommend going for a stroll in the bush, coming back to a Negroni by the outdoor fire, followed by a relaxed two-hour dinner at our restaurant. The massages are also a must!

For those who are willing to get to know the region, I really think you can’t miss our beaches, which even in winter are amazing for a cold dip or just catching a sunset. For the more adventurous, a hiking tour with a local guide in Rota Vicentina is absolutely worth it.

And lastly, something we always like to ask—do you have a favourite object at Herdade da Matinha?

That would have to be our old Toyota, which takes me and the dogs to the beach and on adventures exploring the rugged tracks that surround us.

‍

‍‍‍