About us

Since 2017, Solar Alvura has been lovingly transformed from a derelict building to become one of Europe’s finest health hotel destinations. Throughout the grounds you will transported through time with our beautiful old stone walls and charming Portuguese architecture.

The building dates back to 1868 with evidence of various features added on over the years. Solar Alvura has its own unique character shaped by the past with an interesting maze of passages resulting in every room havings its own unique shape, size and layout.

Since 2017, we have meticulously renovated the building, equipping it with cutting edge technology to keep you cool in summer and warm in winter. All rooms have been fitted with individual climate control, full insulation and A rated windows. This makes the building more comfortable, energy efficient and friendlier on the environment.

Throughout our five year renovation process we have curated thought-provoking antiques, restored the properties historical olive press and lovingly designed the décor to the highest of standards.

At Solar Alvura, we provide a selection of personalised programs to align with your specific health goals. Our programmes range from weight loss to complete relaxation with the emphasis on living healthily and feeling supported in the process.

Our daily consultations are designed to guide your progress and give you a pathway to making better health choices. During these sessions we will empower you with the knowledge, skills and motivation to successfully reach your goals.

We believe in creating a relaxed atmosphere at Solar Alvura, where you can meet like-minded people, experience an array of fun activities and feel inspired to embrace a healthy lifestyle.

Our founder, Dr Eva Orsmond is passionate about educating people on the importance of living a health lifestyle and maintaining an optimal weight. Born in Finland, Dr Eva has worked as a medical practitioner in Finland, Italy, Namibia and Ireland.

In 2001, Dr Eva opened Ireland’s only medically supervised clinic - solely dedicated to weight loss and Type 2 Diabetes reversal and management. Dr Eva’s approach to nutrition has seen her clients lose up to ninety kilograms in weight, drastically improving their physical health and mental well-being.

Recognition for her tireless work soon followed with the TV series ‘Operation Transformation’ in 2007. Dr Eva was involved with this hugely popular series on RTE for six seasons and it gave her a platform to promote health advocacy with regular TV, radio, magazine and newspaper features. Her popularity as a public figure and determination to tackle societal health issues resulted in the ground breaking documentaries - The Sugar Crash, The Medication Nation, Ireland’s Health Divide and may other TV programs.

Dr. Eva is also a best-selling author with three highly acclaimed books:

The Last Diet (Gill & MacMillan, 2012)
The 10lb Diet (Gill & MacMillan, 2013)
Reverse your Diabetes (Gill Books, 2018)

Solar Alvura is located on the site of a traditional Portuguese farmstead dating back to 1868. The surrounding area of Moncarapacho is steeped in a rich agricultural heritage and renowned for its fertile soils that produce figs, olives, oranges and carob beans. The Solar Alvura property was originally cultivated with olive trees, orange groves and there is evidence that vineyards once flourished on the grounds.

On the 13th of March 2017, our founder Dr Eva stumbled upon the property while on holiday in the Algarve. The building was formerly a named Hotel Solar da Fornalha, which had been left abandoned and derelict since 2010. Dr Eva instantly fell in love with its lush landscape, stunning vistas and the old world charm of its architecture. She believed the area was perfect for people to reset, relax and ignite a passion for embracing a healthy lifestyle.

Since purchasing the property in July 2017, Dr Eva, Wyatt and their team have lovingly restored and rebuilt the property into an energy efficient modern building while retaining its old manor house charm. To document the journey, Irish TV channel RTE commissioned the series ‘Dr Eva’s Great Escape.