Odette may be your first point of contact. A cheerful sprightly lady with quite a sparkle. The owner Maria Jose is a lovely lady who has curated this gem of a property in the small town of Borba. Maria Jose has looked after this palatial house which has been in the family for 4 generations. This is part of her heritage and also tells you a bit about Portugal, a history which she seeks to share with visitors. There are a few bedrooms which are almost suites, which are sizable, spotless, and full of objets d'art. Beds are very comfortable and the en-suite bathrooms are impeccable. Breakfast is a lovely formal affair, with homebaked and homemade items, carefully chosen fruit, etc. This is truly a Casa or house/home and less a hotel, and as such needs to treated with care and respect. Give yourself time to explore and enjoy.

In a small sleepy village we found this 1800-th century palace hidden behind a giant green gate. Once inside a large marble staircase led up to the floor where the owner has set up five majestic bedrooms (with ensuite bathrooms).

Stayed here for three days and it truly was a world beyond. The most charming old lady Odette (in her eighties but sharp as a knife) was attentive to every detail and made sure that we were served a home cooked delicious breakfast. She speaks only Portuguese, but we managed well with a few Spanish words and sign language. Luckily had the pool all to our selves, set out back beside an overgrown garden full of charm.

Highly recommend a detour to Borba and this gem!

Note to owner: the four post bed was beautiful but rock hard in our opinion. And please install a system that relieves Odette from her 24/7 duty to answer the door. We didn't mind waking up at 01.00, 03.00 and 06.00 when guests attending a party buzzed the gate to get in, but poor Odette had to run up and down those stairs all night and ended up sleeping in a sofa nearby.

Stayed there twice already! It's a fabulous 18th century palace with only a few guest rooms, located in a small town near Estremoz and Vila Viçosa but outside of the tourist's circuit. The house and the garden are magnificent, and they have a great swimming pool.