Portugal Homes
Property # 8721

Location & Description

Quinta da Bouça a truly delightful home situated on the edge of a small village featuring a view of the vineyards and across the shallow valley. The home is very comfortable furnished in rustic style with wooden beams and open stone fireplaces.

The rear door opens onto a forest covered hill with some spectacular specimen trees. The swimming pool, at the side of the house is sheltered from the wind with a view arross the estate vineyards. The use of the pool will be exclusive to cottage guests and occasionally is used by the owner and immediate family. The area in front of the house can be enclosed for small children.

Amenities

The outbuildings of this Quinta have been converted into three self contained suites. Each have an open fronted eating area and a dining and lounge area. Two of the suites have abedroom with double or twin bedsan ensuite bathroom and a living room containing a kitchenette and double sofa bed.

The third suite has twin beds with ensuite bathroomkitchen and is connected to a large living room used by all the guests.
The entrance to these suites is outside the main living area.
Inside the nearby farm house there are two additional bedrooms which can be taken with the house if more accommodation is required. With these two rooms comes an additional sitting room.

The three units are offered as being suitable for a large group with the dining aea being able to sit 14 persons on three tables.

Daily maid service is included in the price.
There is full central heating which is available if required at an additional charge.

The house, which has been in the same family for over 300 years, is about 10 kms from the city of Viana do Castelo which is one of the most beautiful old sailing ports in Portugal. The wealth of the city came from trading with the then colony of Brazil. These past times are recognized as one walks around the estate looking at the plants, (as one does!) the Quinta and the nearby Manor House.

Modern road systems now quickly take you to Porto, to the beautiful border river, the Minho, or further afield to the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia (not acknowledged to be part of Spain here!)

The more energetic might like to drive up the Lima valley for a walk in the National Park or a game of golf at the Ponte de Lima or Estela courses.

Alternatively, there is the surfing on the nearby long sandy, 'blue flag' beach of Cabadelo - said by some, surfers and non surfers alike, to be the best beach in Portugal - and still completely undeveloped. Here you can see why the headquarters of the European Surfing Federation is based in Viana do Castelo. For the surfers there is also a major beach at Afife, about 3 miles north of Viana do Castelo.

The beach and the estuary are also a paradise for windsurfers with light winds in the morning for beginners, becoming a famous high wind area in the afternoon. Experts have a choice of the sheltered water behind the breakwater or playing in the Atlantic waves.

The more genteel may prefer to strool around the historical centre of Viana do Castelo or take afternoon tea on the terrace of the famous Pousada on top of Santa Luzia mountain.