Posadas or Portugal

Pousadas are the state-owned chain of hotels in Portugal which feature restored castles, palaces, convents and monasteries, along with modern hotels in special touristic locations. All properties offer top-notch accommodations often of historical and architectural interest with excellent dining.

Below shown just few examples of Posadas. Many others are available. Email us about location, dates and prices. Prices usually are per person per night double occupancy, depend on season and include buffet breakfast and tax.

	Agueda. This country-style Pousada was built in 1942 in Serém, on top of a hill overlooking the valley of the River Vouga. On the road between Oporto and Coimbra, near the shallow inlets of Aveiro, it is an absolute must for anyone wishing to take a look at this part of the country. Nearby, Aveiro, one of the Portuguese towns best-known for its cuisine, is a good excuse for a gastronomic excursion.
	The Castle of Estremoz dates back to the 13th century and was built by order of King Afonso III to defend the Alentejo province from attacks by Castile (Spain). In its interior King Dom Dinis built a royal palace where he resided from time to time. His wife Isabel, the Holy Queen, died here in 1336 and it is from her that the Pousada takes its name. The famous needlepoint rugs from the nearby town of Arraiolos, which decorate the spacious rooms and lounges, lend it an air of comfort, while lovely old 17th and 18th century Portuguese furniture, works of art and ceramics complete the effect. .
	Caramulo. The Pousada de São Jerónimo is situated in the Caramulo hills, which are well-known in Portugal for their healthy air. The Pousada offers the visitor an opportunity to enjoy the clear mountain air which was originally much in demand as a cure for respiratory ailments. The old Sanatorium is now a quite prestigious Motor Museum. This is a small Pousada, 1 km outside the town of Caramulo, offering a time of peace and quiet, away-from-it-all. .
	This is the pousada of Beja, in Southern Alentejo, home of Sister Mariana Alcoforado, the nun famous for writing dazzling love letters. The convent of São Francisco was founded by the first Governor of Beja, Lopo Esteves, in 1268. All that remains of the original convent is the Chapel of the Tombs, built by order of Dom Dinis, the poet king. The adaptation of the Convent to a Pousada in 1994 uncovered Franciscan building techniques and remains from the Roman occupation of the town.
	Alijo. This Pousada is an ideal jumping-off point for exploring the Douro Valley. It is located in the small town of Alijó, founded by King D.Sancho in 1226 in the heart of one of the world's foremost wine-growing regions. The name Barão de Forrester is closely linked with the history of Port. James Forrester (1809-1862) left his native England to work for his uncle's company, Offley Forrester and Co., a name still well known.
	In the middle of the Alentejo, bathed by the luminous light of the region, we find the Castle of Alvito, built in the 15th century in the country town of the same name, 30 Km from Beja. The main features of this castle are its round towers and high walls, which are most unusual in the region. The careful adaptation to turn it into a Pousada includes, besides other facilities, a bar in the keep and a garden in which many plants of the region are grown.
	Guimarães, city of D. Afonso Henriques, first King of Portugal, is truly the cradle of the nation. The Pousada de Nossa Senhora da Oliveira, originally an old manor house, is in the centre of the town. This Pousada is well worth a visit, as it is the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, the Martins Sarmento Museum – where you can see the relics from the Citânia de Briteiros – and the Alberto Sampaio Museum – where you can admire some of the very best in Religious Art.
	The Pousada de Santa Marinha, situated in the Penha Nature Park, Guimarães, is a reconstruction and adaptation of the Monastery of Santa Marinha da Costa, which dates back to the 12th century, although the cloisters (16th century) and the fountain (17th century) are of a later date. The Pousada is a masterpiece of restoration and rebuilding, carried out by Fernando Távora in 1985 and winning him the National Prize for Architecture. There are also beautiful and famous 18th century tiles and you will love the contrast between the old dark wooden furniture and the bare white walls.
	The fort of Valença defends the River Minho, which forms a natural border between Portugal and Spain, and is a historic landmark in the history of Portugal's fight for Independence. Built in the style of the French architect Vauban, this fortress with its star-shaped bastions now houses the Pousada de São Teotónio. From its privileged position it has a view over the river and the spectacular bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1885.
	The town of Vila Nova de Cerveira, which is famous for its Biennial Fine Arts Festival, was built by order of King Dom Dinis in 1320, high up in the hills overlooking the River Minho. In 1982 the old town was restored with care to conserve all the old buildings in the construction of the Pousada, and for this it was awarded the "Europa Nostra" prize. Even the chapel was adapted and forms part of the Pousada, leaving the visitor with the feeling that he or she is living in a medieval citadel.
	Posada Do Crato. A castle, a convent and a palace, built in different periods, were the origin of this ecclesiastical architectural work of outstanding harmony. The former Knights of the Order of Malta's monastery, is surrounded in medieval mystic. Flor da Rosa Pousada manages to combine the genuine characteristics of the convent, highlighting them with an architectural project, which although modern, entirely respects its origins.
	Posada Sagres. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, the Pousada is located in the village of Sagres, in the Algarve region. This village has an important historical and maritime significance, from where, 500 years ago, Prince D. Henrique´s caravels left to look for new countries. The discovery of the cultural authenticity of the area and the possibility of walking on desert beaches, allow you to forget about the real world. From the fishing village of Sagres come the excellent fish and seafood that can be quietly savoured at the Pousada, a contrast to the more usual cosmopolitan bustle of the Algarve coast.

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