From your lounger at the edge of the infinity pool, staring at the sheep grazing over the hills… it does not get any more Alentejo Zen! At 45 minutes from Lisbon airport, we discovered this new gem. A recently completely renovated farmhouse, the house of the grandparents of the dear hostess Dona Toia, is now a charming bed & breakfast with 5 suites. All with their own terrace, bathroom and fully equipped kitchen. But this is not all, the family now owns 3 townhouses in the historic town of Alcácer do Sal, 10 minutes by car, which are also rented out.
When there’s a big bar of Hermès soap in the bathroom and a tea menu, you know this is pure luxury. This wine and olive oil estate, Herdade in Portuguese, covers 450 hectares, so it is huge but it doesn’t feel too big. It’s because the various accommodations are spread out and all have their own style. This is such a special hideaway, very suitable for the spoilt international traveller who goes for luxury and (eco) top quality in combination with nature, Alentejo deluxe!
Off the beaten track Algarve… The olives are being harvested as we drive along a dirt track to our cottage. Formerly the farm workers lived here, now the 3 cottages and the main house are transformed into spacious holiday homes, white plastered with soft green shutters and a large, deep purple bougainvillea growing along the covered terrace. The houses are fully equipped and have a private swimming pool. Here you can relax and get a glimpse of authentic Portugal away from the hustle and bustle, a wonderful rural escape.
How fairy-tale like is this Hideaway… nature and style go hand in hand here. The colours are subdued, there are cool (vintage) finds and there is space… lots of space! I had my mind set on this hidden spot on the Costa Vicentina – the far western part of the Algarve (and Alentejo) on the Atlantic coast – for already quite some time. The surroundings are truly an undiscovered part of Portugal. This 27-hectare estate with 4 apartments and 3 rooms is a true Hideaway for nature lovers and for those who look for tranquility!