**1.Quinta de Cadima (Coimbra) **
It is located in a privileged location in the center of Portugal, near the city of Coimbra and a few kilometers from the Beaches from the Atlantic coast. The great extension of gardens , as well as their careful design, make Quinta de Cadima a unique option for those who want to rest surrounded by mimosas, mulberry trees, lime trees or Japanese maples that, among other varieties, are integrated with the fountains and ponds.
The main building, which has more than 2,000 m² built, retains the style of the traditional constructions Portuguese, having updated its character and inspired by the palaces or grenadian cármenes . It should also be noted its magnificent library , a project by the Spanish architect Gregorio Marañón, who also designed its gardens.
The house has capacity for 12 persons in a very comfortable way, being an ideal option for families or groups of friends who wish to rest in a contemporary Garden of Eden and having fantastic beaches such as Look, Tocha or Figueira da Foz.
Ability: 12 persons.
Price: €1,200 per night.
Farm of Cadima, in Coimbra.
2. Pedras Salgadas (Chaves)
Pedras Salgadas Spa & Nature House is located within the Pedras Salgadas Natural Park , known for its hot springs and located in Trás-os-Montes , a region that, due to its rich history, traditions and nature, was named by the mythical poet Miguel Torga as a “wonderful kingdom”.
In this natural and incomparable environment, one can stay in one of the 16 eco houses or in sculpture tree houses , designed by the architect Luis Rebelo Andrade and winners of numerous architecture awards.
Within this natural park are the historic Pedras Salgadas hot springs, but also a modern Thermal Spa , whose renovation has been carried out by the prestigious architect Álvaro Siza Vieira. There is a wide range of massages, thermal and aesthetic treatments within the thermal area, which includes a magnificent indoor pool and sauna and Turkish bath areas.
It is an ideal place to rest in one of the lesser-known regions of our beloved neighboring country, surrounded by nature and with accommodation that has seen a revival thanks to innovative architectural projects that have brought the famous 19th-century spa up to date.
Ability: 1 and 2 bedroom houses.
Price: from €180 per night (2 people).
3.A House of Estremoz (Alentejo)
Near the beautiful town of Estremoz and halfway between Badajoz and Evora, is A Casa de Estremoz, a fantastic family country house. It has the capacity to accommodate up to 12 people (6 adults in three suites and 6 children in a mezzanine room) and has been restored by its owner, Maria do Carmo together with the architect Joao Cassiano Santos.
The house, which has been kept in the host family for three generations, is located in the middle of the incredible countryside of the region of Alentejo and has a swimming pool surrounded by a garden of oaks, cork oaks and other local varieties.
The region is undoubtedly one of the richest in Portugal for its customs and traditions, especially in relation to its gastronomy and its wines. What better plan than to visit Estremoz, just 5 km from the house and eat in restaurants like Gadanha Haberdashery , or be seen in towns such as Évora –UNESCO World Heritage Site and the only place that the poet Vinicius de Moraes said he would accept to live in Europe–, Vila Viçosa (20 km), the fortress castle of Evoramonte (18 km), Arraiolos (41 km) or Monsaraz (62 km).
Ability: Villa 12 people.
Price: from €400 / night.
4.Villa Pedra Natural House (Serra de Sicó)
It is on a slope of the Serra de Sicó, right in the center of Portugal – 28 km from the city of Coimbra. It was here that the old Village of Cima had been abandoned for more than seventy years, before being discovered by Manuel Casal , who fell in love with its unique beauty and decided to bring it back to life with Villa Pedra Natural House together with the architect Victor Mineiro . Carefully respecting the spirit of the region, they used ancient techniques of construction to recover the limestone block walls covered with ocher lime to preserve the ecological and aesthetic base.
Villa Pedra Natural Houses spreads the illusion of re-inhabiting an entire village, offering fully equipped homes decorated with vintage furniture and lots of art. The ten villas have a community garden –in addition to the private ones in each house– and a chill out area that invites you to sunbathe. The swimming pool It is an excellent alternative to the hot summer days, contrasting with the warmth of the chimneys in winter. Although the houses all have a kitchen, Villa Pedra offers its guests a wonderful breakfast which includes bread made in a wood oven and typical products of the region.
Ability: 6 villas (2 people) and 4 villas (4 people).
Price: from €130 / night the villa for 2 people.
5. Sacoto House (Vedras Towers)
Located in the heart of Lisbon's wine region, near Torres Vedras, this charming house surrounded by vineyards and gardens It is the perfect getaway for families or groups of friends looking to get away to the countryside. In this region where time seems to stand still, the estate is a luxurious haven. The exquisite home echoes local beauty and tradition, embracing its roots through historic architecture and rustic interiors. Why not take a dip in the private pool sapphire blue or relax in one of the hammocks while listening to the song of the birds and the breeze that gently rustles through the nearby trees?
Inside, the elegant interior combines the modernity with comfort through a sophisticated color palette of white, beige and terracotta, as well as tropical details such as the plants that are found throughout the house. Try a Portuguese recipe in the kitchen of the main house, before dining alfresco in the impressive outside dining . At the end of the day, retire to one of the two suites main; or to one of two neighboring studios, each with a king-size bed and private bathroom, plus access to the pool and garden, living room, dining room and kitchen.
Ability: 8 people (4 suites).
Price: from €300 / night.
6) River Chão (Serra da Estrela)
In the region of Serra da Estrela Chão do Rio is located. This rural and sustainable tourism project was born from the passion and vision of a couple of urbanites, Catarina and Rodolfo, who wanted to provide an authentic rural experience in this idyllic setting. On a large piece of land they have built, with much love, eight beautiful stone houses with thatched roofs, surrounded by pastures, sheep and a organic pool , made to resemble the lagoons of the Serra da Estrela. On his 20-acre farm, guests can admire and enjoy nature and explore nearby trails on foot or with bicycles that are available free of charge. The kids they can amuse themselves with wheelbarrows, collect eggs of the mobile chicken coop, feed the sheep –Flor and Estrela–, take a dip with the frogs or just play freely and safely.
The houses are well equipped with kitchen and they have balcony and terrace. Pets Allowed.
Ability: houses from 1 to 3 rooms.
Price: from €135/night.
7) Tólo House (Trás-os-montes)
Close to the city of Vila Real and the Xeres Biosphere Reserve, you will find this spectacular vacation home designed by the architect Alvaro Leite Siza , son of Pritzker Prize winner Álvaro Siza Vieira. A masterpiece of architecture and engineering, surrounded by the nature purest in the neighboring country.
The land where the house is located has a large slope and is narrow and long, which means that the architectural project has been carried out through the composition of small volumes that are associated and articulated with each other, with the creation of terraces –in one of them there is a swimming pool– or slopes that optimize the use of space.
The interior features a contemporary decor and fireplace. It has two double rooms and one single. Obviously, it is not suitable for children and they do not accept dogs, but it is the ideal destination for lovers of nature and architecture.
Ability: 5 people (2 double rooms and 1 single, 2 bathrooms).
Price: from €400 / night.
8.Quinta dos Murças (Douro)
The Quinta dos Murças is a historic house owned by the prestigious Esporão wine house . Here they make some red wines magnificent and they have restored the house of the farm that is rented out in its entirety.
The location is unbeatable, on the right bank of the Douro River, between Régua and Pinhão, in the heart of Alto Douro, a UNESCO World Heritage wine region. The house was completely renovated in 2017, respecting the traditional local architecture and its charm. The studio Anahory Almeida He took care of the decoration with exquisite taste.
The five rooms accommodate up to 10 people, with direct access to the garden and the swimming pool ; while in the main room the windows open with views of the "river of gold". In addition to being able to enjoy the daily life of a winery and do wine tastings, Quinta dos Murças organizes walks (they have designed 3 trekking routes), picnics and boat trips on the river. A dream site!
Ability: up to 10 people (5 rooms).
Price: from €700 per night with breakfast included.
9. Caiadas House (Arraiolos)
This is the idea of Paula and Mario, a young couple with careers in the world of marketing. Passionate about design, both found in the Alentejo center the ideal place to restore small whitewashed houses of overwhelming beauty. The architect Luís Pereira Miguel has been the right partner for his project, which has already been awarded and recognized throughout the world.
The location is great: close to the town of Arraiolos , famous for its carpets and Évora, a city with a lot of charm. Three of the houses, plus one as a support, were fully restored, as they used to form a nucleus of old water mills, with canals, lush green landscape and megalithic rocks.
Here the countryside is wonderful, there are bicycles to ride and you can enjoy the beautiful swimming pool in the form of a beach, installed between the old watercourses of the mills. When night falls, the sky offers the opportunity to gaze at the stars like no other place in southern Europe.
As a novelty, they have inaugurated in the center of Arraiolos the Open House , perfect for creative retreats as well as for groups and families with capacity for 10 people. It also has a rooftop pool where you can cool off from the summer heat and appreciate the views of this historic town in Portugal.
Ability: various types of house from 1 to 4 rooms.
Price: from €120/night.
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