Paradise In Alentejo, Portugal!
Portugal is a country full of great cities and regions to visit. In the north you have Porto and the Douro Valley, in the center there’s Coimbra and Serra da Estela, in the south the Algarve, then there is Lisbon the capital and the islands of Madeira and Azores, to mention a few
One of the areas not yet discovered by mass tourism is the Alentejo region; I don’t know why, because it’s fantastic. I love the endless untouched landscapes, and the fabulous cuisine the most.
Cutest Room Entrance!
I stayed near the town of Beja, at a 5-star vineyard hotel called Herdade da Malhadinha Nova. Originally just a high-end Portuguese winery, they now created one of the best hotels in the country. This place is located in the middle of the vineyard fields and has all the luxury you can wish for, from the moment you enter the hotel, it truly feels like home. Since it gets quite hot in the summer in Alentejo, one of my favorite places to be is their infinity pool overlooking the endless golden fields.
A Perfect Picnic
During my 2-night stay, I didn’t leave the place at all, as it has so many activities to do. I enjoyed a tour of the winery followed by a wine tasting, then went to see their Lusitano horses go for a horseback ride through the countryside. In the evening, I had dinner at their high-end restaurant, where they serve delicious typical Alentejo food accompanied by their quality wines. The next morning I started the day with one of the best breakfasts ever near the poolside and enjoyed some quality time at the pool. Before lunch, I was picked up by their staff and brought to a gorgeous setup in the middle of the vineyards where they had prepared romantic picnic lunch. A truly perfect stay!
But the choices aren’t over yet: you can also enjoy a balloon ride, participate in a cooking class, go offroad on a jeep tour, have a surfing class at the Alentejo coast and many other options.
Endless Alentejo Landscapes
If you are visiting Lisbon and for example would like to continue south to the Algarve, then I would recommend stopping at Hotel Herdade da Malhadinha Nova for at least a wonderful 1-night to remember..