[1] At the end of the 18th century, the Viscounts of Azurara purchased the residence, after its original sale to the merchant António Afonso, who had constructed alongside the building a soap factory.

[1] The gardens, a Nasonian inspiration, were divided by architectonic alleys of with balustrades and small villages of allegorical sculptures, while along the river there ran a balcony.

[1] But, it was only in 1947 that recuperation of the building was undertaken, under the leadership of its occupant Companhia de Moagens Harmonia (Harmony Milling Company), of the União Fabril.

[1] Other parts of the project, that included the creation of a small marina, the re-routing of a marginal roadway next to Freixo and the construction of a new building (to commemorate Vasco da Gama's trip to Brazil and provide a venue for the celebrations marking the Age of Discoveries), to shelter the Press Museum and other tenants, remained.

[1] The protocol between Pestana and the municipal council of Porto was signed in March 2006 to establish a Pousasda Histórica model, under the projection of David Sinclair, which included the connection of the palace to the historic milling factory.

[1] In December 2006, the IPPAR approved the conversion project of ENATUR, but only in October 2009, was an official inauguration held for the Freixo Palace Hotel, championed by architect David Sinclair and interior designer Jaime Morais.

[1] The rectangular palace includes towers subtly taller than the main building, and covered by pyramidal merlons and encircled by smaller pinnacles.

[1] The imponent eastern facade includes a grande staircase, but with recessed central zone girded by the towers, and decorated by balustrades and ornamented platforms (festooned by wrapped garlands and dolphins).