Quinta Da Agra

“History, tranquility, hospitality.”

Fantastic hotel. Lovely owner who is happy to tell you all the history and is incredibly helpful generally. The breakfast was lovely with freshly made bread and cake with creamy butter. Bacon and egg was also on offer. A delightful place.

“Living the life”

This was a week long family holiday organised by my wife's sister and we were thirteen in total, eight adults and five children ranging from a seven-month-old to a teenager. The accommodation is in an old, beautifully restored winery/farm consisting of two separate buildings, one with three bedroom… more

This was a week long family holiday organised by my wife's sister and we were thirteen in total, eight adults and five children ranging from a seven-month-old to a teenager. The accommodation is in an old, beautifully restored winery/farm consisting of two separate buildings, one with three bedrooms, one with four and an annexe with another. There's a mix of twins and doubles in large, tastefully done out rooms scattered throughout the buildings. The house has been sympathetically restored over many years and the sense of history is palpable. Granite being the predominant building material, there's a feeling of timeless solidity. Absolutely glorious place with acres of gardens on various levels and a pool with a modern pool house, massage room and gym attached. The shady pool room has a coffee-making machine, fridge, TV and comfy seating. A barbecue area with separate fully stocked kitchen sits at the rear of this building. Lots of outdoor eating spaces in the verdant shade (very welcome in the 35° heat of midday), and in the main house lots of space to avoid that midday sun, including a vast, cool, lounge/billiards room in what was the old wine cellar. It's in a very quiet rural location and a kilometre to the nearest supermarket. (Although we could pick fresh grapefruit from a tree in the garden every morning.) What's not to like? The friendly, knowledgeable owner, Pedro, met us on arrival and supplied a huge meal of home-made cold meats, salt cod croquets, snacks, quiches, cake and his own very good wine. He supplied another meal half way through the week. (Bedding and towels were also changed midweek.) The kitchen was a tad small for all of us at the same time but we didn't find it a problem. The only quibble some of our party had was the lack of air-con units - the youngest ones found the nights a bit uncomfortable. Being built in the 17th century, the original air con consists of two foot thick granite stone walls and heavy shutters and doors. We found that worked as long as you kept them closed! The town of Ponte de Lima, five minutes in the car, is absolutely gorgeous. Forty minutes from Viana de Costelo on the coast, an hour north by motorway from Porto airport and under an hour from the rolling hills of the Peneda-Gerês national park on the Spanish border - in the park are lots of wild swimming opportunities and trails to walk through the wonderful countryside. Lots of rivers and water about so even in the height of summer it is lush and green. Ponte de Lima with it's lovely old Roman bridge, claims to be the oldest village in Europe and there are sandy beaches along the riverbank, perfect for swimming in the cool water. A fortnightly market on a Monday fills the town waterfront with vendors, hawkers and people flooding in from the countryside around to buy and browse. Other times the town has a sleepy, laid back feeling that encourages you to amble along the plane tree boulevard where the reflected light from the river sparkles beneath the canopy. Sit and watch the activity on the water then stroll back into town and stop for a galão and pastel de nata. Perfect.

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“Best of Northern Portugal. ”

We stayed here as a group of 16 and what a treat. We booked the whole place out as a villa. It really is a beautiful place to stay. Pedro our host was so welcoming with many pastries, cakes and his own wine arriving for us almost daily. The place has been done up beautifully with an outside k… more

We stayed here as a group of 16 and what a treat. We booked the whole place out as a villa. It really is a beautiful place to stay. Pedro our host was so welcoming with many pastries, cakes and his own wine arriving for us almost daily. The place has been done up beautifully with an outside kitchen, gymnasium, pool and amazing gardens with lemons, walnuts, kiwi, watermelons, squash, vines you name it it grows there. A half an hour walk to ponte de Lima. Supermarket 5 mins drive. We would happily go back.

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“Unique and authentic Portugal!”

Staying at Quinta Da Agra was a very different but delightful experience. It was difficult to find (address on Hotel.com was incorrect) but we met some lovely locals who tried patiently to help us ignorant people who don't speak Portugese to find it! Pedro's pride in his farmhouse is infectious and… more

Staying at Quinta Da Agra was a very different but delightful experience. It was difficult to find (address on Hotel.com was incorrect) but we met some lovely locals who tried patiently to help us ignorant people who don't speak Portugese to find it! Pedro's pride in his farmhouse is infectious and he is a wealth of information. We loved our stay and particularly enjoyed sitting in the quiet of the backyard in the shade of the olive tree, overlooking the fields and the swimming pool. However, there were a couple of things that slightly detracted from our experience; the bed was just a little uncomfortable and it was quite warm in the room overnight - a fan would have been nice but Pedro wasn't onsite to ask. Breakfast was good and we shared with one other couple but were told that there had been 14 people staying the night before which may have detracted from our peaceful overall experience! We would definitely stay here again, it was a unique and authentic experience and we loved it!

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