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The
Pousadas of Porto and Northern Portugal
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| Alijó
- The council of Alijó has a lot to see and experience, in a variety
of forms and in the different seasons of the year varying from one village
to another. Walking through the main town Alijó gives us a
good picture of this variety. The architectonic heritage is vast.
Next to the town hall, in the ancient part of the town, is the Pillory
– classified as Building of public Interest. Some of the other monuments
to visit are: the Parish Church built in the 18th century, dedicated to
Santa Maria Maior; the fountain in front of the church; the square in front
of the Town Hall; the monument in honour of the Douro Man –witnesses by
this council his historic vitality and main activity: the art and struggle
of wine growing. |
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Pousada
de Alijó - Barão de Forrester, Alijó
Style:
Charming Pousada w/pool in the heart of wine region
The
Pousada de Alijó, Barão de Forrester is a charming hotel
located in the old village of Alijó, heart of the Douro Wine Region,
among the famous "quintas", small estates where the Porto Wine vineyards
grow. It is the most perfect place to get to know how the Oporto
wine is produced, one of the most famous wines in the World. The proximity
of the Douro river allows guests to go on pleasant cruises, and enjoy one
of the most beautiful landcapes in the country. Next to the town
hall, in the ancient part of the town, is the Pillory – classified as Building
of public Interest. Some of the other monuments to visit are: the Parish
Church built in the 18th century, dedicated to Santa Maria Maior; the fountain
in front of the church; the square in front of the Town Hall; the monument
in honour of the Douro Man –witnesses by this council his historic vitality
and main activity: the art and struggle of wine growing. |
| Amares
- Between the city of Braga and the Gerês mountain range, stands
Sta. Maria do Bouro Pousada, the result of the restoration of a former
Cistercian Monastery, one of the most characteristic of that period in
Portugal. In accordance with the monastic severity, but with a comfortable
and modern decoration, this Pousada is an absolute must to discover the
cultural sites of Minho. |
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Pousada
de Amares - Sta. Maria do Bouro, Amares
Style:
Historic Design Pousada w/pool Formerly a 12th C. Monastery
Between
the city of Braga and the Gerês mountain range, stands the Pousada
de Amares, Sta. Maria do Bouro, result of the restoration of a former Cistercian
Monastery and one of the most characteristic of that period in Portugal.
In accordance with the monastic severity, but with a comfortable and modern
decoration, this historic luxury hotel is an absolute must to discover
the cultural sites of Minho. |
| Bragança
- The city is ideally located near the border between Spain and Portugal.
In Bragança, with its strategic position, has token place many constructions
of fortresses before Fernão Mendes, brother in law of D. Afonso
Henriques, demanded the creation of the city walls in 1130. It has
been Brigantia. In its interior is the castle of D. Sancho I, established
in 1187, with donjon and vigil towers, which have many tragic legends that
say they were the refuge of Dona Sancha, the unhappy wife of Fernão
Mendes. The legends also say that other wives were kept prisoners in those
towers. Between the city walls, it’s also the pentagonal Domus Municipalis
from the 17th century, that is the unique model still remaining of the
Romanic civil architecture in Portugal. |
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Pousada
de Bragança - São Bartolomeu
Style:
Charming Pousada w/pool in Nature Surroundings
Bragança,
too often forgotten due to its distance from the decision-making centres,
will be impossible to forget, once visited. From the Pousada de Bragança,
São Bartolomeu, on top of a hill of the Nogueira montain range,
you have a superb view over the castle. The Pousada de S. Bartolomeu
enjoys a sensational view which stretches across the plateau lying beyond
the mountains. After a visit to the city sites and monuments, a magnificent
evening can be enjoyed by the pool. Located in one of the most interesting
medieval cities of Portugal, this charming hotel in Bragança combines
perfectly its architecture, decoration and gastronomy with the regional
culture. |
| Geres/Caniçada
- With a unique location in the heart of Peneda/Gerês National
Park, this Pousada has a breath taking view over the river Cávado
and the peaceful Caniçada dam. These are landscapes to remember,
while appreciating a delicious appetizer on the Pousada's terrace, looking
down at the beautiful sunset reflected on the water. |
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Pousada
de Geres / Canicada - S.Bento
Style:
Nature Pousada w/pool and Scenic Views
It
is a nature hotel with a unique location, right in the heart of Peneda/Gerês
National Park. The Pousada de Gerês Caniçada, São Bento,
has a breathaking view over the river Cávado and the peaceful Caniçada
dam. These are landscapes to remember, while appreciating a delicious
appetizer on the Pousada's terrace, looking down at the beautiful sunset
reflected on the water. . |
| Guimarães
- Although is essentially a mediaeval town, Guimarães has its
origins in the distant 10th century. It was at this time that the Countess
Mumadona Dias, widow of Hemengildo Mendes ordered the construction
of a monastery which became the focal point for a settlement. For its defence
she ordered a Castle to be built on a hill a short distance away, thus
creating a second nucleus of development. A street grew-up linking one
to the other - the Santa Maria Road. Later the monastery acquired
great importance due to the privileges and donations bestowed on it by
kings and nobility. It became a famous centre for pilgrimage attracting
the prayers and promises of the faithful drawn from all quarters. |
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Pousada
de Guimaraes - Nossa Sra. da Oliveira, Guimarães
Style:
Charming Pousada in Monumental Town
The
Pousada de Guimarães, Nossa Sra. da Oliveira is located in the medieval
historical centre of Guimarães, traditionally known as the birthplace
of the Portuguese nation. This charming hotel pousada has been successfully
adapted from a private manor house, and offers all the comfort of modern
amenities, while maintains the charm and privacy characteristics. From
the windows you can enjoy looking over the church steeples and ancient
rooftops, inviting you to get to know the surrounding Medieval streets,
leading to the majestic monuments, so characteristic of the city.
It is part of the liveliness of the city, helping to reflect its century
old traditions. Staying at this Pousada and walking through the narrow
streets that lead to the castle and to the Palace of the Dukes, is like
discovering the history of Portugal. |
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Pousada
de Guimaraes - Santa Marinha, Guimarães
Theme:
Paradores of Spain and Pousadas of Portugal
Near
the historical centre of Guimarães, set on a hill overlooking the
city, we find the majestic Pousada de Guimarães, Santa Marinha,
a former XII Century Augustin Monastery, which after being rebuilt and
restored, received the National Architectural Prize in 1985. This
historic luxury hotel has unique charming points, like the superb gardens,
to
be counted among the best Portuguese’s gardens, a magnificent stone staircase
and an artificial lake can be found among the trees. The rich Portuguese
glazed tiles, the cloisters, the terraces over the city will, together
with the magnificent cuisine and wines, make you wish to stay for a very
long time. |
| Marão
- Amarante so to say, comes into existence when a preacher with the fame
of a saint visits this place. This was in the 13th century. The preacher
falls in love with place, builds a hermitage and begins to create conditions
for a village to take shape. He begins by throwing a bridge over the Tamega
which encourages peoples to settle there. Later on, the very
fame of Gonçalo's holiness keeps drawing more and more people to
the place. The religious element is very much present in the creation of
this city. Some road from Santiago to the South, would pass close to Amarante,
and the peregrines, knowing the fame of the preacher saint could not help
making a small detours to came and see and listen to him in person. |
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Pousada
de Marão - São Gonçalo, Marão
Style:
Hotel Pousada in a Scenic Nature Area
The
Pousada do Marão, São Gonçalo, is a nature hotel set
on the Marão Mountain Range and only 20km from the town of Amarante.
This Pousada is the perfect place to enjoy the magnificent landscapes of
the mountains and the Tâmega valley. The splendour of the view from
the Pousada sitting room is matched by the excellent quality of the cuisine.
In the hotel's immediate surroundings, guests can enjoy the most beautiful
tours, amongst which a visit to Mateus Palace, which apart fromits architectural
beauty, offers guests a full programme of international cultural activities. |
| Mesão Frio
- The Solar was built in the 18th century on the terraced vineyards leading
down to the river Douro. At that time the view would have been to the fast
flowing river but now it is a long lake with hotel boats making a tranquil
cruise across the breadth of Portugal to the Spanish border. The perfect
way to arrive at this hotel must be to take one of the boats going upriver
from Porto and see the magnificent scenery with the terraced vineyards
and the white farms and solares standing proudly in the middle of their
estates. |
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Pousada
de Mesão Frio - Solar da Rede, Mesão Frio
Style: Manor House Pousada
w/pool with a Vineyard
In the middle of the Douro
demarcated wine region, on the road from Mesão Frio to Régua,
is the Pousada Solar da Rede, with its breathtaking view over the River
Douro. Ideally located within a 27-hectare vineyard, this 18th century
manor house offers visitors the chance to sample the reality of local vineyard
life, whilst reliving the ways of Port savouring. The furniture is
outstanding and the individually designed rooms have been described as
'a museum of beds' with each bedroom containing one of the finest beds
of an age and having all the furniture in the room to match. These
fine pieces are also throughout the public rooms of this historic luxury
hotel where they fit in perfectly with the architectural grandeur and the
decorated tiling on many of the walls. |
| Valenca do Minho
- Set on the highest place of the old fortified area of Valença,
near the Spanish border, this Pousada enjoys a magnificent view over Spain,
over the peaceful river Minho and the ancient village walls. Its cuisine
delicacies are among the best of the Minho regional traditions. The
fortress is a piece of Gothic and Baroque Military Architecture. The first
walls were built in the 13th century (1200). Nowadays it is a kind of bulwarked
system, Vauban type, built in the 17th and 18th centuries. Placed on the
top of two small hills, it is formed by two polygons: the Magistral Square
and the Coroa or Coroada (Hormeveque style) separated by a ditch that protects
the four Doors (Coroada, Gaviarra, Fonte da Vila and Sol). |
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Pousada
de Valença do Minho - São Teotónio
Style: Historic Design
Pousada
The Pousada de Valença
do Minho, S. Teotónio, is set on the highest place of the old fortified
area of Valença, near the Spanish border. This charming hotel
in Northern Portugal enjoys a magnificent view over Spain, the peaceful
river Minho and the ancient village walls. Its cuisine delicacies are among
the best of the Minho regional traditions. The fortress is a piece
of Gothic and Baroque Military Architecture. The first walls were built
in the 13th century (1200). Nowadays it is a kind of bulwarked system,
Vauban type, built in the 17th and 18th centuries. |
| Viana
do Castelo (Costa Verde) |
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| Viana
do Castelo - Scarcely hundreds of metres away, is the Monte de Sta.
Luzia (the Sta. Luzia hill) which looks over the town and the mouth of
the river as far as the Atlantic. It was here, in 1903, that Domingos
José de Morais, a Portuguese man who made his fortune in Brazil,
ordered the construction of a hotel which he then gave to the town.
Inaugurated in 1918, this Hotel is ideally situated and has been part of
the network Pousadas de Portugal since 1979, formerly called Hotel Santa
Luzia, this unit was restructured to create a more welcoming and comfortable
ambiance and then reopened as Pousada do Monte Santa Luzia, with forty
seven rooms, a suite, Swimming-pool, tennis court, garden and playground
for children. |
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Pousada
de Viana do Castelo - Monte de Sta. Luzia, Viana Do Castelo
Style: Modern Restored
Pousada w/pool
The Pousada de Viana do
Castelo is set on the hill of Santa Luzia, overlooking the city and the
beautiful estuary of the river Lima. Inaugurated in 1918, this charming
hotel is perfectly situated and has been part of the network Pousadas de
Portugal since 1979, formerly called Hotel Santa Luzia, this unit was restructured
to create a more welcoming and comfortable ambiance and then reopened as
Pousada do Monte Santa Luzia, with forty seven rooms, a suite, Swimming-pool,
tennis court, garden and playground for children. From this Pousada
guests can enjoy the view of one of the most beautiful landscapes of our
country, the city of Viana do Castelo and the sea. Its surrounding gardens
and woods, along with the magnificent swimming pool and the peaceful place
where the Pousada is set, allow guests an invigorating tranquillity. |
| Vila
Nova de Cerveira - The consolidation of V. N. Cerveira as a tourist
destination is supported in products of great historical and cultural relevance,
as the Mountain and chapel of Espirito Santo, where there are visible
remaining portions of a defensive system, seem to be of Celtic origin.
Also important is the S. Cipriano Church, from the 19th century, but with
previous vestiges from the 16th century, and the Chapel of S. Roque, built
after the 1564 plague. |
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Pousada
de Vila Nova de Cerveira - D.Diniz, Vila Nova de Cerveira
Style: Historic Design
Pousada
The Pousada Vila Nova de
Cerveira, D. Diniz, is a boutique hotel set in a small XIII century manor
house, where rooms and suites have their own courtyards, and ensures guests
have total privacy. From the manor's old walls you have the most
magnificent view over the river Minho. This is an excellent starting point
to get to know the beautiful Minho landscapes and traditions, or even to
relive the military achievements of this land. The consolidation
of V. N. Cerveira as a tourist destination is also supported by products
of great historical, cultural and natural relevance, as the Mountain and
chapel of Espirito Santo, where there are visible remaining portions
of a defensive system, seem to be of Celtic origin. |
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Latest update: May 10, 2010
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