Helped by his son-in-law, the architect Almeida Araújo, Sir Nelson began the construction of a tourist complex on that site. At first, villas were built which were then sold privately. Names on the buyers list included Lady Goldsmith, Lord Duncan-Sandys, Dom Vasco da Cunha and Eva Gabor.

Meanwhile, an event took place in 1968 that would have a historic and decisive influence on the name of this beautiful project: the birth of Lara, the granddaughter of Sir Nelson. The property was renamed “VILALARA” in honour of the newborn baby girl.

Around this time in 1968, Leon Levy visited the property and fell head over heels for the area. Two years later he acquired VILALARA, transforming it into a “private club”.

VILALARA continued to grow over the years, evolving into a hidden utopia of rare beauty and restraint, set within a paradise that can satisfy the refinement of the most demanding clientele in an atmosphere of complete privacy and discretion.

Through the efforts of Leon Levy and the architect Ramiro Laranjo, VILALARA continued to develop, always respecting its original features and gradually evolving into the village that it is today.

In 1990, the first thalassotherapy centre in Portugal was built at VILALARA. The creation of this centre for seawater-based treatments and therapies was the work of Jean Bobet of Biarritz, one of the most internationally renowned figures in thalassotherapy, VILALARA’s architect Ramiro Laranjo and Samuel Paillat, an interior decorator from Geneva.

With an area measuring 2.600m2, the Thalassotherapy Centre undergoes a continual process of renovation and modernisation, acquiring the latest and most sophisticated equipment available on the market.

In September 2007, the Amorim Group acquired the share which had until then been owned by the Accor Group. Vilalara thus changed its name from the Sofitel Thalassa Vilalara to the VILALARA THALASSA RESORT and is now a part of the Blue & Green hotel group.