Rural Tourism Portugal
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Herdade da Matinha - Guest House in Alentejo
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I am not a travel journalist, nor a fancy, overpaid copywriter.
I write solely from the heart, having first stayed at mAtinha on my honeymoon in 2001. We went from being guests to friends overnight. That’s what mAtinha does to you i suppose.
You will come across mAtinha in the coastal hinterlands of rural Alentejo, about 150 kms south of Portugal’s capital, Lisboa. The Alentejo is different from say Provence, or Tuscany. Put simply, it is more rustic, more real; more relaxed.
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Gourmet Meals
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Mónica and Alfredo, who have 3 sons, live and run H d M . There are 2 sizeable country houses, lavishly and creatively decorated. Serenity and good vibes ooze. Sometimes, you go to sleep after a sumptuous dinner, and the only thing you can hear is the distant bleeting of lambs. Bliss.
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Horse back riding in the middle of Nature
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There is a lot to do at Matinha. And then again, there is an awful lot you don’t have to do! The open and pure Atlantic Ocean is only 15 minutes drive away; at sundown it is not uncommon to celebrate the day with a homemade picnic and champagne, sitting on the beach watching the waves burst and the sunset glow.
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Surf in Alentejo
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Portugal has a very mild climate with solid surf often with offshore morning breezes are extremely common, making it a popular surfing destination for surfers from inside and outside Europe. Portugal has a huge variety of waves and swell size and as a result makes an ideal surfing location for surfers of every ability. It is a good place to learn to surf with lots of places offering surf lessons and packages.
as said on www.surfing-waves.com
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“We are all different, and at mAtinha we have everything we need.”
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Walkabouts
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The surrounding 120 hectares of H d M is untarnished, Mediterrranean countryside. Stripped cork trees, with dates written on their exposed skins provide welcome shade for the shepherds and their dogs. Goat and sheep lazily chomp on wild herbs and vegetation. Kestrels and Bonelli Eagles, circle effortlessly in the blue skies overhead.
If you keep your eyes peeled whilst walkabout, you will sometimes come across bright green frogs in the grass as well as black and yellow-speckled salamanders.
Paths and dusty roads wind through the surrounding hillls, thick with pine, cork and strawberry tree groves. The sea, for the more adventurous trekker, is a gentle 2 hour walk westwards; it is worth it, just to see the majesty of the open sea and the sky at the end of the day which turns into a hazy purple/ pink colour.
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Accomodations
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All 16 of the bedrooms are decorated differently. Each hás its own character. There are rooms for 4 people, twin rooms and suites for romantic couples. Please click on the link below to view.
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herdAde da mAtinha
7555-231 Cercal do Alentejo
Portugal
Telefone
+351 932 944 285
+351 933 739 245 |
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