A nineteenth century farm house set in the beautiful Minho area and restored to incorporate modern living standards whilst retaining many original features. Here can be found the real essence of Portugal where the only noise one is likely to hear, apart from the occasional car or the local churches chiming the quarter hours, are the farmyard sounds of chicken, sheep and cows. The farm can be rented as a single unit for a group of friends or separately, each house being independent and having a private terrace. There is a central laundry room and a large pool. Due to the Covid19 virus and many requests for a private pool, we are able to meet this demand for pool exclusivity. This way we can offer extra beds/rooms if the size of your group exceeds the capacity of the farm house (5 people), we can offer additional accommodation in the smaller Lagar cottage for an extra 4. possibly 5 people. The price would be 15 euros per person per night. The Lagar has one double bedroom and sleeping accommodation for two people in a screened alcove behind the living room fireplace, there is also a large sofa which could be used as a single bed. The Quinta da Ribeira is a two bedroom apartment (1 double room, 1 twin) on the first floor of the house. There is sleeping accommodation for a fifth person in a small curtained apartment off the living room. The ground floor was traditionally reserved for the animals although it now houses a laundry room and store room. The living room has an open fireplace, dining area and extra sofa bed, satellite TV , WiFi and DVD player. The attractive stone terrace is ideal for outdoor meals. The kitchenette includes a full sized gas oven and 4 ringed hob, fridge freezer, microwave and dishwasher together with smaller kitchen appliances. There is a fully equipped bathroom with bath and shower. A traditional feature of this house is the steep flight of steps leading up to the living areas, this however makes it less suitable for the elderly or families with toddlers. Eating Out. Shopping: The nearest restaurant is just over a mile from the property and although it is traditional Portuguese fare good reports have been received regarding both quality and price. The restaurant also does a take away service. There are several good, family style eating places in Paredes de Coura, a 7 mile drive away, whilst Ponte de Lima boasts some more elegant restaurants for a special evening out. There are 2 small supermarkets in Paredes de Coura where most requirements can be met and an Intermarché, Continente and Lidl in Ponte de LIma. Please remember that not all cards are accepted in Portuguese supermarkets so cash should be raised first at one of the numerous cash points. For good value for money, variety of products and high quality, however, we recommend a visit to Tui, just over the border in Spain where there is a large hypermarket and a Lidl supermarket; take the first turning into Tui once you have crossed into Spain, turn right at the main road and the supermarkets are a short distance away on the right. Places of interest in the immediate vicinity. A couple of miles from the property is the protected area of Corno de Bico. This wild park like terrain is ideal for walking. It is the habitat of many rare animals but those most usually seen are the semi wild horses which roam the area. The whole area is very good for walking enthusiasts and ordinance survey maps are available on request. Another local place of interest is the unfinished monastery church of Nossa Senhora de Secouro (Our Lady of Help) and the two local hilltop shrines of Nossa Senhora de Fatima and San Silvestre are worth a visit on a fine day to see the views they afford. There are also several walks that can be undertaken from the property, details of which are in the cottage. Although the nearest sea beach is a 45 minute drive, there are plenty of local river beaches for swimming enthusiasts. Look out for the sign 'Praia Fluvial', a very up market one in Paredes de Coura and many 'natural style' ones on the Lima River. There is also a delightful river beach with waterfall and a deep pool just a few kilometres from the property, details can be found in the cottage. Golfing enthusiasts have given excellent reports about the local course in terms of price, quality of play and beauty. Ponte de Lima: This historic town with its Roman bridge and medieval centre is a must. From the farm house it is fun to park the car on the north side of the river, cross the (now pedestrian) bridge and visit the town on foot. There is a bi-weekly market on a Monday which takes place on the river bank and there are various specialist markets at other times. There is also a nautical club where canoes can be hired, a riding school, (riding only on the premises) and the golf course. The north bank of the river has been developed into a series of gardens which make for a pleasant stroll. Further afield there are numerous small towns both in the Minho and in Galicia in Spain, many of which have interesting historic centres and street markets. Barcelos is a good example with an ancient bridge and ruined castle, the market here is on Thursdays and is the biggest in northern Portugal. Practically anything can be bought from fruit and veg to basketry, local pottery and farming implements. One area is devoted to gypsy stalls where clothing can be bought very cheaply, much of it is surplus goods produced for foreign markets often with foreign price tags already attached. Porto is about a 75 minute drive, detailed instructions for arrival and parking facilities at the Alfandega can be found in the cottage. From the car park it is a short walk to the iconic Don Luis bridge and Port Wine cellars on the south bank, on the Porto side the medieval Ribeira (river bank area) boasts plenty of bars and cafes. There is an elevator up to the cathedral and top deck of the bridge and finally a pleasant walk down steps and steep winding streets back to the car park. Braga was a Roman settlement and has been an important ecclesiastical centre for centuries. Valença is a walled town overlooking the Minho river and Tui on the Spanish side; both these towns are worth a visit as they are so different in character and atmosphere, the restaurant Caballo Furtado in Tui serves a very good meal. Guimarães, the birthplace of Portugal has an ancient but much restored castle and palace. Another interesting day trip is up the Lima valley to Lindoso, here can be found a large group of espigueiros (stone corn storage huts) and the castle. On the return trip take the road right to Soajo, it crosses the river over an old hydro electric dam, Soajo also boasts a large group of espigueiros. Then return to the river turning right before the dam is reached, a few kilometres along the road is the ancient village of Ermelo. As there is no motor access, park on the roadside and walk down the steps to the village and church then continue your journey back through Arcos de Valdevez and Ponte de Barca. As this is a shared property, for the comfort of all our guests, we do not allow parties, gatherings or other visitors without prior arrangement.