Villa Alentejo

Villa Alentejo is nestled in the countryside, close to the village of Cruz Joao Mendes and within easy reach of Grandola and Melides and the charming Comporta villages. The Alentejo is an increasing beloved place for tourists with breathtaking surroundings combining the best of the countryside along with the sensational beauty of the Alentejo coast’s stunning, unspoilt beaches. Surrounded by undulating umbrella pines, cork trees and stunning rice fields, guests truly get away from it all at Villa Alentejo. Herdade da Comporta is comprised of seven tranquil villages including Muda, Carvalhal, Comporta, Brejos da Carregueira, Carrasqueira, Possanco and Sol Troia. Each has its own charms and you should visit them all! The towns of Troia, Grandola, Melides and Alcacer do Sal are all wonderful.

Melides is no longer the secret Portuguese beach spot that it once was. Beyond its sparkling dunes, a thriving creative community of sculptors, artists, architects and musicians have moved in. Surrounded by nature and the scent of pine and eucalyptus, the village has been a sleepy hamlet for more than five hundred years. Now it has woken up and offers delicious local wines and food together with striking new villas dotting the hills and river estuary. The international jet set are starting to make this backwater their own. Melide’s beach is stunning so expect to see gorgeous dunes and fascinating wind-sculpted rocks together with thrilling waves.

Grandola boasts a history going back to the Bronze Age and was an important outpost for the Roman Empire which included large scale fishing, salting and preservation complexes. Grandola offers an incredible shoreline which stretches from Troia to Melides. Activities include kayaking, surfing, hiking, windsurfing, scuba diving, hunting for boar, rabbit, hare, quail and wild pigeon and fishing. The town enjoys an excellent reputation for its fantastic gastronomy and quality wines. The handicraft industry in Grandola includes wrought iron, weaving, tapestry, wooden furniture, pottery, cork and leather goods.

Nestled between Grandola and Comporta is the tiny hamlet of Muda. The hamlet is brimming with tall pines and ancient cork trees, another very natural area. Visitors enjoy horse riding, surfing lessons, yoga, boating, sailing, wildlife watching and much more. Although Muda is not right on the beach, it takes just minutes in the car to visit some spectacular wonders. On one side you can visit the beaches of Comporta, Pego, Carvalhal and Troia. In the other direction, you can visit the beaches of Melides, Santo Andre, Porto Covo and Sines.

Carvalhal enjoys a good array of cafes and restaurants as well as a central shopping street brimming with antique shops, boutiques and decorating shops. Spa Oryza offers wonderful wellness treatments using natural products as well as yoga and beauty workshops.

The charming village of Comporta is located at the base of the Troia peninsula and at the side of the Sado estuary. With a history going back to the Roman Empire, Comporta is still a hive of agricultural production with rice fields and vineyards producing some fine white, red and rose wines. Golfers love Comporta. Its fabulous Comporta Dunes course was designed by David McLay Kidd within a stunning terrain of pine forest and sand dunes close to Pego beach and Comporta Links is under construction. The nearby Troia championship golf course was designed by the famous golf architect Robert Trent Jones. Comporta offers an excellent array of activities including horse riding, fishing, hunting, sailing, bird watching and cycling. Comporta beach is a ten minute walk from Comporta village.

Brejos da Carregueira is located between Comporta village and Carvalhal. Again the village is surrounded by rice fields and pine forest. The village enjoys an almost private beach which you reach through the fields. Carrasqueira village is located on the banks of the River Sado estuary with lots of agricultural land and colourful fishing boats. Its main street is lined with an array of restaurants, bars, cafes and a few shops. Possanco village is a newish country hamlet surrounded by the protected reserve and with wonderful views of the estuary.

Sol Troia is a privileged area with its pavements sprinkled with towering palm trees and pretty flowers. The village is situated at the centre of the Troia peninsula between Comporta and Troia. It is an idyllic location just off the coast of Setubal.

The exclusive Troia boasts a championship golf course, a trendy marina, spas and a casino. Visitors enjoy sea and river fishing, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, sailing and cycling. Troia lies at the top of the peninsula just off the coast of Setubal and is overlooked by the Serra da Arrbida Nature Reserve. Visitors can take the ferry over to Setubal which is a twenty five minute crossing with the car or ten minutes if you take the catamaran as a pedestrian. Otherwise, you can drive via Alcacer do Sal and Comporta village. Troia is a wonderful area of natural beauty and is home to much wildlife including flamingoes, storks and dolphins.

Further south from the villa is the small seaside town of Sine, the birthplace of the great explorer Vasco da Gama. This historic fishing town enjoys kilometres of sandy beaches and wild, untamed waves.

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Please be aware that the location tab shown on the website is not based on the property's exact location; therefore, all location amenities are an approx of facilities, restaurants, and villages/towns you might find around the property. The property's exact location will be provided to you before arrival and might come along with some recommendations about the area and what to visit.

THE REGION

The plains that extend as far as the eye can see start close to the Tagus. While to the north, the pace is set by the green of the flatlands, further south; the landscape combines with the sun, the heat and a slower pace of life. This is the Alentejo.

The vastness of the landscape is dotted with cork oaks and olive trees that withstand time. Santarém is a natural viewpoint over the immensity of the Tagus. Here and there, you find a walled town, such as Marvão or Monsaraz, or an ancient dolmen to recall the magic of the place. Around the hills, low, whitewashed houses stand on small knolls, castles evoke battles and conquests, and the yards and gardens are witnesses to the Arab influences which shaped the people and nature.

In the Alentejo, the power of the land marks the time and cities like Elvas and Évora, listed as World Heritage by UNESCO, show the tenacity of the people. Perhaps this is the reason that culture and spirituality take on a singular character here. These memories of the past are also shared by other cities, such as Santarém, Portalegre and Beja, and in the former Jewish quarters, particularly in Castelo de Vide.

But you must also explore the coast. The landscape here is hilly and rugged, with small sheltered coves between the cliffs, many of which are ideal for surfing. You will also breathe the scents of the countryside here, the aromatic herbs that season the fish, seafood and other regional fare to be accompanied by the region’s excellent wines. Indeed, the entire Alentejo lives according to the rhythm of the earth.