Villa Barcelos

Villa Barcelos boasts an idyllic situation within the unspoilt countryside of the Minho region and provides some of the best views you could hope for in this naturally beautiful part of northern Portugal.

The immediate area is rather quiet, as you might expect from such a tranquil setting. The Minho region is famous for Vinho Verde wine, so it's no surprise that there are private farms close by where you can enjoy food and wine tastings.

The charming town of Barcelos is just 10 minutes away by car and is a convenient place to stock up on the essentials, as well as treating yourself to some holiday mementoes. This small medieval town has a range of shops, supermarkets, bars and restaurants, with history around every corner. You'll love trying to spot the ceramic cockerels dotted all over the town and then learning about the famous legend behind them within the ruins of the Paço dos Condes de Barcelos.

Pottery, in general, is one of Barcelos' main claims to fame, with a museum full of sculptures to stroll around. The weekly market held every Thursday is not to be missed, as it's one of the biggest in Portugal and is just bursting with handicrafts, souvenirs, food and clothing.

If relaxing on the beach is more your style, then make a day of it and drive to one of the sandy stretches of the Costa Verde in under an hour. The scenery of the private beaches range from secluded coves to dramatic cliffs, and there are plenty of watersports to try on the open waves.

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.

ABOUT MINHO

The areas of Minho extend from the Spanish border in the north, south to Porto and east to the mountains of Vila Real. It is a green and fertile area of rolling hills encompassing the great rivers Minho, Lima and Douro, and the National Park of Peneda Geres. The countryside of the region is typified by long, sandy beaches bordered by pine woods, picturesque villages nestling among vine-covered hills, and historic towns such as Amarante, Guimaraes, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, and Viana do Castelo.

The area encompasses a range of postcard-worthy landscapes and features that could almost be Portugal in microcosm: dreamy river scenes, high mountains, rolling vineyards, beautiful historic towns, dramatic Atlantic beaches, ancient religious foundations and mysterious archaeological sites.

Then there's the bold, sharp and fruity Vinho Verde to consider. This young wine is fashioned from the fruit of kilometres of vineyards that wind along rivers, over foothills and into Minho mountain villages.

But while you're enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Minho, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we've put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!

Check out our Minho Travel Guide >>