MARTA Fonseca

CO-OWNER, THE LISBOANS & PRADO

LISBON, PORTUGAL

Tânia, Marta and Marisa Fonseca are three sisters who make up a super stylish set of triplets and share a love for architecture, art, design, food and the city of Lisbon. A few years ago they decided to take the leap to become business partners, combining their diverse backgrounds in art direction, architecture, and law. They now run one of hottest hotels and restaurants in the city of Lisbon.

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1. WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP, WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE? HOW HAS THAT DREAM CHANGED?

When I was a young girl, I decided I wanted to be an architect. At first, I believed I just wanted to impress my father (who has always worked in the construction industry), but, after a while, I became seriously engaged with the idea and began to develop a fascination in finding and combining different solutions regarding the organization and the alignment of spaces and forms. As the years passed by, I naturally embraced and pursued this calling. One day, I decided to take a step further and created something of my own. It was due to my family background and personal interests that I decided to develop this project in the hospitality area (growing up in a big northern family taught me to openly share and welcome) and to do so with my twin sisters, Tânia and Marisa, who have joined me in all stages of life. 

2. IS THERE A PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE YOURSELF AS A YOUNG GIRL?

Since I was a young girl, I followed the example given by both my parents, who have always worked extremely hard, in a humble and tireless way. Today, looking back and forward, I would advise myself to continue following their example, but also to take time to celebrate and enjoy my achievements as well as life in general. Otherwise, what is the point of working so hard?

3. HAVE YOU AND YOUR SISTERS FACED ANY OBSTABLES AS WOMEN IN THIS INDUSTRY?

Having worked 10 years within the construction industry, which is heavily dominated by men, the hospitality industry has almost been a walk in the park. It is true that the restauranteur industry remains predominantly male, but I believe it is a declining reality: our restaurant Prado, for example, has a kitchen team currently composed by the same number of women and men.

4. WHO WOULD YOU LOVE TO HOST AT THE LISBOANS (LIVING OR FROM HISTORY)?

I have an enormous list. For example, I would love to have hosted the main character of a real story of the twentieth century, a woman born in Porto’s high society named Maria Adelaide Coelho da Cunha, who had the courage to separate from her husband and, for that reason, ended being locked down in a mental institution and deprived of her family inheritance. At the time, she wrote several chronicles in a popular newspaper published in Lisbon, inspiring many women to fight for their happiness and leading to the Portuguese law’s amendment.

5. WHERE ARE MOST OF YOUR TRAVELERS FROM?

We welcome travellers from all around the world. Of course, we have many travellers from countries with friendship or partnership bonds with our country, but, in this global and digital era, several other countries have discovered us. And some travellers, after visiting Lisbon, even decide to become residents: we have a neighbourhood very nearby, called “Mouraria”, which is known as one of the most multicultural Portuguese neighbourhoods, counting with residents of more than 50 nationalities.

6.WHREE IN THE WORLD WOULD YOU LOVE TO TRAVEL TO? WHO WOULD YOU TAKE WITH YOU?

I would love to travel to Latin America (México, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina) due to its richness regarding the countries’ natural landscape, architecture, history, traditions, culture, gastronomy and, above all, people. And if I could fulfill this dream joining a Wild Terrains group trip, with both my twin sisters, it would sincerely be the icing on top of the cake.