Ola de portugal! Hello from Portugal. More precisely, from the North region, on the Atlantic Ocean. Our yellow estate (Quinta) is located on the route to Santiago de Compostela, on the slope of the Serra de Santa Luzia mountain.
It will be difficult for me to tell in a few words the more than 500-year history of Quinta da Boa Viagem and its inhabitants. May I just mention that it is said to owe its name to the king of Portugal, who made a pilgrimage to Santiago in the 16th century. This was one of his stops. It looked completely different then, because there was only a defensive tower (which is now part of the manor). The king gave the heir permission to build a chapel dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, or Our Lady of Good Journey. The chapel stood outside the walls of Quinta so that pilgrims walking the Camino could rest in the shade and coolness of its walls. The name "Boa Viagem" also refers to the profession of the successive owners of the property. They were deep-sea sailors and brought many “souvenirs” here from their travels. You will see them there. And does the name José Maria de Eça de Queiroz mean anything to you? This is a Portuguese Adam Mickiewicz who has the same last name as my husband. We will tell you an unusual story about an unwanted child, and then one of the most important representatives of realism, on the spot.
Anyway, my husband - Jose, who inherited this house from his great-uncle at the age of 7, is a specialist in the subject of the history of the "castle" (shhh, just don't call the house that way). The house waited until Jose grew up, and then until we traveled the world together. Now our quite unusual agritourism and we are waiting for guests. We invite you to the garden full of fragrant fruit, for evening chats with port wine, to the swimming pool and for horse riding on the beach. Boa viagem, have a great trip!
Welcome to the Camino de Santiago route leading to the destination of many pilgrims - Santiago de Compostela. If you are not going further, stay here at the Good Trip Estate (Quinta da Boa Viagem) and after swimming in the surrounding waterfalls or surfing, relax in our exotic garden.
After crossing the red door of the baroque portal, you will find yourself in an arcaded tunnel, which for a while keeps secret what is hidden behind the fence. After a few steps, you will see a 16th-century yellow mansion and a large Renaissance garden full of nooks and crannies, the entrance of which is guarded by a Japanese warrior, a replica of a statue standing in the royal palace in Kyoto. We have 6 hectares of land within Quinta, and another 10 hectares outside its walls. Everyone will find a private space to rest here.
There are no rooms for rent in the manor, or as the guests of the castle call it (you can choose the nomenclature), but it is an open house and you can spend time here. In the living room, in the dining room, on the terrace by the grill, sipping wine on the stairs. It's a bit of a museum facility where we live. Jose will surely be happy to show you around the entire property (and there is a lot to see) and tell you the long history of Quinta and its inhabitants.
The apartments are located in old farm buildings, which, renovated and adapted to living conditions, are pleasant living spaces. Forming 6 adjacent houses. Each apartment has its own kitchenette, bathroom, seating area and bedroom area. Their dimensions differ. The smallest - for 2 people has 36 m2, the largest - basically a separate house for 6 people, has an area of 126 m2.
Each cottage also has an outdoor seating area.
There is also a common building with a terrace where breakfast is served daily. It can also be used as a coworking space. In the lower garden there is a large guest pool, surrounded by a lawn, overlooking the ocean. No one will run out of water in our Quinta. The property has a gravity irrigation system, so water flows from above us, granite aqueducts. It flows into numerous retention reservoirs in the garden, supplies the fountains and waters the greenery.
In front of the walls stands our family chapel (most houses in Portugal have a chapel), also from the 16th century, dedicated to Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, or Our Lady of the Good Journey, still visited by sailors and pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela.
A daily cleaning service is provided in each cottage. There is free Wi-Fi, a shared barbecue in the courtyard, a washing machine that guests can use and a covered drying room.
I speak Polish and our staff speaks English and sometimes even Polish.
Lemons ripening in the sun, grapes, sweet-smelling figs, and chestnuts in autumn. As an addition, instead of salad, terraces overlooking the ocean. These and other delicacies will be served to you during breakfasts, to which everyone is invited. We will not limit ourselves to a typical Portuguese set, i.e. a croissant and coffee. Tables will bend with sourdough bread, eggs in various forms, something sweet (pancakes, pancakes, cookies). There will be fruit, yoghurts, salads, juices, cereals. You eat as much as you want and as much as you want, because there will always be something for vegetarians and vegans.
Each apartment has a kitchenette, so you can plan the rest of your meals yourself. You can also be tempted by a sumptuous dinner served by us. These are not cheap things (40 euros per person), but in addition to good food from the garden straight to the table, we provide an unforgettable experience. Dinners are served in the dining room in the court, at a beautifully set table, full of flowers and candles. We will be happy to sit down to dinner with you and talk about Portugal, we will advise you where to go and why you must reserve time for Porto.
Is it possible to get bored in a 16th-century mansion with a swimming pool, eating fresh fruit from the tree, having 2 km to the beach by the ocean, swimming in the river and waterfall, as well as horse riding right under your nose? Exactly.
Our guests are divided into two groups: those who do not rent a car on site and move around the Quinta (property), beach and walks, and those who decide to drive around the area. Both will have a whole range of attractions.
If you are going to drive around a bit, be sure to rent a car. It's worth it, because we have an attractive neighborhood. Within a pleasant distance from us you can visit:
- Ponte de Lima (25 km from us), the oldest village in Portugal, founded by the Romans, who built the Ponte Romana bridge, which still stands here today (after the 14th century reconstruction). The village is also famous for its Monday market, which is considered one of the largest in the country. The rural surroundings of Ponte de Lima are also interesting, with many mansions representing the Portuguese Baroque (the most famous: Bertiandos, Brandara, Calheiros and Pomarchao).
- Guimaraes (about an hour away from us), the first capital of Portugal, a town inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Here you will find many medieval monasteries and churches, narrow cobbled streets and a 10th century castle.
- Caminha, a town located 20 km from us, on the border with Spain, right on the Minho River. It is worth seeing the old defensive walls, the beautiful main square Largo do Terreiro, the Torre do Relógio tower, smaller squares hidden at the ends of narrow streets. Maybe it will also convince you that it is famous for the production of vinho verde - green Portuguese wine.
- And finally Porto. But here we suggest you stay at least for two or three days. So maybe it's worth stopping by Porto first and then coming to us or leaving a few days in Porto at the end of your trip.
If you don't want to rent a car, no worries. On site, we have plenty of attractions for lazing around and spending time actively. You can:
- Bathe in waterfalls in our area. The waterfalls start about 50m outside the property walls, but it's still our land. Wonderfully clear water, bridge jumps and unforgettable memories of a hot day in Poço Negro-Areosa.
- Lie by the pool overlooking the ocean.
- Bathe in the largest of several retention reservoirs, which is fed by water flowing from our mountain.
- Take a guided tour with me and then explore our mountain above the estate (Santa Luzia) on your own. Throughout the mountain, there are remains of an old Castro culture settlement, dating back to the 4th century BC. And on top of it are the remains of the defensive walls. These stone circles that you will encounter along the way are the remnants of the domed houses of the former inhabitants. The Portuguese do not go to the mountains, so there are no marked trails here, so those who like orienteering will be in paradise.
- I am a horse tourism guide, there are two ponies and a horse on our property, and my friend's large stud farm is 5 minutes from us. If you want, I can give you the first lesson in the saddle, you can also gallop to the beach. Trips to the beach last one or two hours.
- Speaking of the beach. It is 2 km away from Quinta, which is about 25 minutes away. However, walking on it is not a problem. My mother, an elderly woman, goes there without any problems. And the beach is unique, one of the wildest and most beautiful in this part of the coast.
- Anyway, you have plenty of beaches here. Afife Beach is a paradise for surfers. Just like the Cabedelo beach, which is about 7 km away. If you would like to try your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing, we have friendly schools. Besides, there are plenty of water sports schools in the area.
- Get lost in our garden, read a book on the stairs of the "castle", drink wine in the evening, pet our bunnies, watch the sheep, play with the dogs.
- You can also wave to pilgrims heading to Santiago de Compostela, and maybe even take the most famous walking route in the world on your own. Even if you don't reach your destination (it's almost 190 km from Santiago), the experience of walking along this road is unique, and the people you meet on the way are extremely polite.
What’s there for children?
Children have a doce vida (sweet life) here. There is a large swimming pool, although little kids prefer to swim in a large retention tank with clear spring water. I think they feel safer here because it's smaller than the pool. In general, we have enough water around us that there is enough for everyone. There are waterfalls within walking distance, there is a beach 2 km from Quinta.
We have two ponies on which children can take their first steps in the saddle. We also have a horse and there is a stud farm 5 minutes from us where the whole family can sign up for lessons.
Rabbits, sheep and dogs also live in our Quinta.
We have swings, trampolines, platforms, houses, tents, etc. And so much terrain that even the most energetic children will be able to get tired.
What’s there for employees?
We have a coworking room where we serve breakfast in the morning. Good internet and good weather. Places to work in the apartments, and if you want, on the sun loungers by the pool. We also have 26 beds, so you can come with the whole company. And in the afternoon, time for surfing, swimming in the waterfall, sunbathing, wine on the terrace.
