June 28, 2023
COMPORTA
Celebrating Friendship
Comporta, Portugal
By Mary MacGIll.
Photographed by Claire Callagy
The Southern coast of Portugal holds a very special place in my heart. Maybe it’s because it shares the same latitude as Block Island, but there’s something about the landscape and down-to-earth culture that makes me feel right at home. I first traveled to Lisbon and the Algarve region to celebrate the milestone of opening our Germantown space and have continued to return over the years to explore more beaches, restaurants, hikes, and small fishing villages.
This year, I planned a trip to Comporta, a town about an hour and a half south of Lisbon, to celebrate all the friendships that have supported me up until this moment in my life — I’m getting married! I was drawn to Comporta because of the ease of travel, and GIANT pristine beaches, but also the authenticity of all the architecture there is incredibly well preserved (it should come as no surprise that the famous interior designer, Jacques Grange, chose Comporta for his vacation home).
We rented cars and took a ferry from Setúbal to Tróia - Cais Sul, which I highly recommend. The trip was stunning with boats passing by and deep blue ocean framed by mountains. Once there, Comporta is made up of a few villages and two expansive beaches boasting gorgeous views and casual, delicious restaurants.
We rented surf boards one day and enjoyed laying in the sun chatting and laughing for hours (as girls do…) My maids of honor planned an amazing day touring the Fitapreta vineyard and the historic city of Evora.
Marion, my right hand woman at MM was there along with my mother, and my friend Claire Callagy (both photographers) so naturally we seized the moment for a photoshoot.
My future sister-in-law led a few yoga sessions, I staged a bootcamp one morning, and spent ample time in the pool.
We enjoyed traditional meals of grilled fish and calamari, fresh salads, cured meats, and roasted potatoes and drank plenty of local vinho verde (on the cheap!). All in all, it was the most perfect setting for experiencing a different culture, relaxing, exploring, and feeling inspired.
