The legacy of the former Hotel Porto do Sol gains its final chapter at CASACOR ES 2026

CASACOR Espírito Santo 2026 marked a moment of farewell. Before being demolished to make way for a new condominium, the former Hotel Porto do Sol — later renamed Canto do Sol — once again opened its doors to welcome stories, memories, and new perspectives. Founded in 1984 by entrepreneur João Dalmácio Castello Miguel, the venture became a reference in the hospitality industry of Espírito Santo and one of the most well-known addresses in the state during the 1980s and 1990s.

During its heyday, the hotel welcomed distinguished guests, hosted major events, and helped transform the landscape of Jardim Camburi, in Vitória. Four decades later, CASACOR occupied its spaces with 37 projects between July 16 and September 8, in a kind of final chapter before the demolition. Among the professionals who took part in this farewell was Isabela Castello, designer, visual artist, and daughter of João Dalmácio, who brought to two projects of the show the memories of a life connected to the hotel.

Hotel Canto do Sol, antigo Hotel Porto do Sol (Folha Vitória/Thiago Soares/CASACOR)

“Hotel Porto do Sol was a landmark in hospitality, architecture, and gastronomy in Espírito Santo and Brazil. My father didn't build a hotel. He raised a stage for memories,” says Isabela. The relationship with the venture went beyond family ties: between 1989 and 2001, she also worked there as administrative and financial manager, closely following the trajectory of the business.

Alongside architects Flavia and Leticia Abaurre, Isabela found in the CASACOR projects a way to retell the history of the hotel. “My father loved architecture, art, and design. He was a regular at CASACOR. I went to some editions of the show with him. And I believe it was a very special farewell. And the theme Mind and Heart couldn't have been more aligned with this edition,” she states.

A hotel that became part of the memory of Espírito Santo

Hotel Canto do Sol, antigo Hotel Porto do Sol (CASACOR)

With 26,000 m², the former Hotel Porto do Sol was designed by architect Paulo Casé facing the sea of Jardim Camburi. In its very first years, it became the address of major corporate, academic, and social events, in addition to gaining fame for its New Year's Eve parties. More than a place for lodging, the venture became part of the cultural and social life of Vitória.

Great Brazilian personalities also passed through its hallways, such as Xuxa Meneghel, Roberto Carlos, and Fernanda Montenegro. The restaurants with live music, ranging from axé to jazz, helped build its unique atmosphere. “These were experiences that the people of Espírito Santo didn't have before the opening of the hotel,” Isabela recalls.

Hotel Canto do Sol, antigo Hotel Porto do Sol (Cacá Lima/CASACOR)

In 2001, the Castello family sold the venture, which came to be called Canto do Sol. With the emergence of new hotels in Vitória, the address faced difficulties in maintaining the same relevance. In 2009, part of the land was sold for the construction of a residential condominium of five towers.

Closed since 2015, the building still underwent a revitalization attempt in 2017 and partially resumed activities in 2023. The initiative, however, did not thrive due to the absence of the necessary permits. In 2026, CASACOR occupied the space for the last time, before the demolition scheduled for the months following the closing of the show.

When affection took the stage

The history of Hotel Canto do Sol took on new contours at CASACOR when Isabela joined Flavia and Leticia Abaurre, of Abaurre Arquitetura. In the Lounge JD, the professionals started from three aspects that marked João Dalmácio's trajectory: the precision linked to the Notary Office, the pioneering spirit in hospitality, and the passion for Flamengo. The quote by Maya Angelou — “Your legacy is every life you touch” — helped synthesize the concept.

Isabela Castello, Flavia Abaurre e Leticia Abaurre - Lounge JD. Projeto da CASACOR Espírito Santo 2026. (Felipe Araújo/CASACOR)

In the João Dalmácio Auditorium, the reference was interpreted in another way. The project recovered the memory of the former convention center of the hotel and preserved its original wine-colored ceiling. The choice reinforced the relationship between the space and the great events that were part of the venture's history, from social gatherings to celebrations that brought together guests from different parts of the country.

Isabela Castello, Flavia Abaurre e Leticia Abaurre - Auditório João Dalmácio. Projeto da CASACOR Espírito Santo 2026. (Felipe Araújo/CASACOR)

For Isabela, the participation in the show fulfilled precisely the role of transforming this trajectory into shared memory. "This show allowed us to immortalize the incredible legacy that the hotel left for Espírito Santo and for the lives of so many employees, clients and partners who built this journey with us. Concrete may be temporary, but the legacy is eternal."

Between concrete and memory

Hotel Canto do Sol, antigo Hotel Porto do Sol (Ricardo Medeiros/CASACOR)

During the two months of CASACOR, the former hotel welcomed back people who had a direct relationship with its spaces — and also visitors who had never set foot there. The Golden Book of Isabela's projects became a small archive of these memories, gathering accounts from visitors.

"I already imagined that people who had been to the hotel would like to remember and relive the place where they had so many memories. And so it was," she says. For her, the surprise lay precisely in the breadth of this impact: "The show also had an impact that I did not expect, which came from people of the new generations or even people who live in the State but had never had the opportunity to enter the hotel and get to know the space, its history and its relevance."

In the end, the farewell took on a meaning that goes beyond architecture. The building that for decades hosted gatherings, celebrations and stories is about to disappear, but found in CASACOR one last opportunity to be experienced. "The main feeling that guides me is the deep pride of this visionary man, who dared to erect the best hotel in Espírito Santo," says Isabela. "There is an inevitable sadness in knowing that, soon, the physical structure will be demolished. But the invitation from CASACOR also brought the joy of poetic reconstruction," she concludes.