Quinta da Moenda

Following a hard year of work, myself, my partner and two children (7 and 11 years of age) decided to take "time for a holiday". We decided on central Portugal and undertook a web search where we found Quinta da Moenda and booked for one week in July 2011. We arrived at Porto airport, picked up a car and drove the relatively easy 2 hours towards Quinta da Moenda and the Serra da Estrella mountain range. The drive was on motorway and an apparently new dual carriageway. Arriving at the entrance to Quinta da Moenda we drove on a cobbled roadway, down to a valley in which lies Quita da Moenda, nestled next to a beautiful river with the stunning Serra da Estrella mountain range and Serra da Acor mountains looking down on this rural paradise. We were met by Hans and Josephine (the owners) and their beautiful and friendly dog "Aki". They showed us to our 4 person apartment, which was just stunning, it overlooked the outdoor pool (we could not keep the kids out of the pool!) and garden with a the ever present sound of the running river waters that border the property. The accommodation, surroundings are stunningly beautiful, a real place away from it all and in nature where all one can do is relax and soak up the atmosphere. Our accommodation was very comfortable and had everything that you would need to self cater, in addition there is an outside kitchen and barbecue area that is free for guests to use. This was just wonderful for barbecues at dusk following days walking in the nearby meadows and the ancient farmlands of Alvoco das Várzeas. Hans and Josephine and Aki! were wonderful hosts and always at hand to provide information on local sites and activities, they even cooked us a wonderful evening meal on our last nights stay! If you are looking for a truly relaxing holiday, set in wonderful natural surroundings that have an ambience that is second to none, then your expectations will be more than met with a stay at Quinta da Moenda in the foothills of the Serra da Estrella mountain range and national park. You will also make friends with the wonderful hosts Hans and Josephine whose attention to detail is clearly apparent on a personal level but also visible in the way that Quinta da Moenda is cared for. We are already booked to return in 2012!