Oh wow - a piece of Portugal paradise! We felt like we became part of the land on this incredible farm property. Open vistas, bountiful flora, lush gardens, fig and citrus trees, old stone buildings, cobblestone courtyards, all surrounded by a canopy of dense trees.
We settled right in to the slow pace of this agrarian setting. It was so peaceful and relaxing, taking meandering strolls along the property and talking with all of the farm animals. The horses and sheep made their rounds along the farm throughout the day, and the dogs and cat regularly wandered over for a greeting. On hot days we swam in the pool that was surrounded by flowering vines and trees (this was especially rewarding after volunteering for some work in the gardens, which was a nice activity). In the evening we would wander down to the old hand-hewn wooden table overlooking the property to eat our dinner or have a drink, while the sunset slowly faded. Every Thursday a couple local musicians would come to sit on one of the verandas to practice their music for a couple hours, and we were welcomed to listen and dance along with the guitar and flute.
The property is situated in a small neighborhood, so getting to markets or visiting other areas like Sintra or Cascais require a car or an easy Uber pick-up, however there is one local restaurant and one bakery just a couple blocks up the street from the farm. If you are looking to stay in the heart of a center with activity, nightlife, restaurants and such, this will probably be too isolated for you. We were looking for a quiet and peaceful stay in the quietude of nature as a home base to come and go from, and this suited us perfectly.
The other best part of this stay were the people that lived on the farm. Yara was an incredible host. We made fast friends with Yara, Mirabelle, Rita and others who either lived on the farm or frequently visited. We were able to have peace and solitude at any time we wanted, but we also enjoyed becoming friends and sharing meals with the folks who lived there.
On a scale of 5, the overall stunning property was a 7 and the lodging itself was a 4. We like small spaces and are used to rustic dwellings so it was a good fit for us. However, it is a simple space that might not suit you if you are looking for chic and fancy. It was plenty big enough for two of us, and it had all needed accommodations, however the furniture could use a bit of an upgrade.
All in all, we absolutely loved our month here on the farm as we were welcomed into the slow pace and the friendly atmosphere of the property, and we hope to stay again in the future.