GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

This charming, hidden away country house and adjacent cottage date back 200 years and offer a very high standard of accommodation and level of comfort. Visitors will feel very much at home and away from it all here. A truly delightful rural retreat.

Right in the heart of Portugal's 'Saloio' region, this area was once considered to be the garden of Lisbon, providing the capital city with all its fruit and vegetables and is now also a popular wine growing region. It is not surprising, therefore, that the surrounding countryside abounds with farmland, vineyards and pear and apple orchards.

Once you come off the motorway and start to wind your way through the countryside, you start to relax and unwind, feeling further and further away from the stress of everyday life.

A farm track leads you off the main road down to the property, confirming that you are arriving at a truly hidden away rural retreat.

On the approach, the property can be seen nestled into a dip in the valley. Old terracotta roof tiles contrast with crisp whitewashed walls and beautiful Moorish-style chimney pots. 

What was once a cluster of tumbledown farm buildings is now a beautiful country house and cottage which have been restored to a very high standard while maintaining original features and using original building materials throughout.

The transformation from old to new is impressive. The farm's original stables is now a bedroom and library, the cowshed, an elegant dining room, the old wine press is now a kitchen (look out for the old millstone hidden under the kitchen table) and the original wine cellar, now a splendid living room.

Stone flagged floors, thick walls, stone sinks and wooden beams give the house the robustness one would expect from an old farm building. Original Portuguese azulejo tiles, ornamental stone carvings and large impressive, but beautifully simple stone fireplaces create elegance while oriental rugs and rich fabrics and furnishings provide warmth. The fusion of all these effects, both structural and aesthetic, results in an atmosphere of timeless rustic comfort and elegance.


GUEST FACILITIES:

Sleeps up to 12+1
This was originally the main farmhouse. The animals were kept on the ground floor while the family lived upstairs.

Ground floor:  2 large living rooms with fireplace, dining room, kitchen, one master double bedroom with bathroom ensuite and private, romantic outdoor alcove and a second double bedroom with it’s own bathroom across the hallway.

First Floor: two twin bedrooms and one bathroom.

Two private outside terraces: a lower terrace opens out from the living room and leads up to the very romantic upper terrace which gives way to wonderful views across the countryside where guests can enjoy a glass of wine and a good book under the shade of an old walnut tree or listen to the sound of sheep bells and marvel at the stillness.

A terrace at the back of the house with wonderful views over the swimming pool .

The house offers many other special little corners where you can sit and read or hide from the hot sun.


THE OWNERS:

The farm was once owned by an old lady who had no family of her own so when she died, the farm buildings were left to her maid. The maid subsequently sold off the different parts of the house which the current owners, Catherine and Diogo, have painstakingly bought back piece by piece.

A great deal of knowledge, skill, good taste, love, time and energy has gone into the restoration work. Catherine and Diogo's greatest achievement, however, is in creating the many special little corners and spaces throughout the property and giving each one its own unique character and ambience. The overall result is a house which exudes charm, authenticity and warmth.

Please Note: Catherine and Diogo are keen to look after their guests and provide a personalised service. They want their guests to know that they are on hand to help in any way they can from organising a taxi to pick you up from the airport to arranging wine tours, a surprise lunch party, or even a special dinner in one of Lisbon's many palaces. They are here to help with any special holiday requirements or plans you may have. Please just ask!