Quinta da Dourada – Portalegre
Visit the Alentejo and take refuge in a place where silence stands still in time. A symbol of times past, Quinta da Dourada is the epitome of equilibrium and well-being.
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The farm, which has belonged to his family for more than two centuries, is the apple of Nuno Malato Correia’s eye. Because of it, he swapped the bustle of Lisbon for a quiet life in the Alentejo and has devoted himself to creating and running rural tourism that respects the essence of the region. Situated in the middle of the Sao Mamede Natural Park, Quinta da Dourada is also a true guardian of the environment. For this reason it has been awarded the Green Key (Chave Verde) for the last four years. Among its sustainable practices are daily recycling, a system that uses spring water from the Serra de Sao Mamede, animal manure, and low energy consumption. But there’s more…
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Local saints perform miracles
Because peace is sacred, all the houses have been given the names of saints. Saint Anthony, Saint Bento, Saint Mamede and the Saint With No Name are the patron saints of the Quinta’s tranquility. The four apartments (complemented by two double rooms) are dotted around the estate and have the same layout: a living room with a kitchenette and a suite (the décor differs in each one). Breakfast ingredients are left in the apartment in the evening.
In the morning, it is up to you to prepare breakfast yourself by combining fruit from the farm, coffee, milk, fruit juice, cheese, cold meats, regional jam and preserves, fresh bread and cake that are delivered to your door.
The property’s seven hectares provide a number of activities. Indoors, in the comfort of your “home”, there are a variety of amusements at your disposal, such as a radio, CD player, wireless Internet, and DVD together with a video library, and even a Playstation 2 that will keep the children happy. But it’s best to spend most of your time al fresco. Outdoor possibilities include a swimming pool, hammocks, couches and sports fields. There is also table football and a tank where Nuno Malato has painstakingly reproduced the region’s river courses. And you can wander on foot or cycle along the paths on the estate.
Leave the estate at your leisure and visit the main points of interest in the region. Begin the day by taking a walk through the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, an area of great environmental and historical interest. Carry on to Portalegre, the proud and wonderful capital of the district, whose steep streets, monasteries, churches and museums are well worth seeing. Then stop by the small walled towns of Marvão and Castelo de Vide and imagine you are a character from long ago. To finish off nicely, take a refreshing dip in the Apartadura Dam, where you can do non-motorized water sports. During your excursion, remember the Portuguese saying that seems made for those who rush though the Alentejo: “Slow and steady wins the race”.
Ribeira de Niza – Portalegre
GPS 039º18′55.22″N – 07º23′46.22″W
+351 245 203 487 ou +351 93 721 8654
www.quintadadourada.com
€65 – €155
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By Maria Ana Ventura
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