The estate has been in my family for seven generations. It covers 40 hectares planted with stone pines, cork oaks, carob trees, apricot trees, fig trees, olive trees and orange trees. We are very attached to this land, the region and our family history, and we have been putting down our roots here for 30 years.
The distinctive feature of the buildings is the use of different traditional construction techniques from different eras, each of which is reflected in the very nature of the walls. Some are made of raw earth, others of stone mixed with earth, and others of brick. During the restoration, we encouraged a dialogue between the cohabitation of eras, forms, uses and materials. We were careful not to invent anything new, but above all to reveal what was already there, while adapting it to contemporary needs. Inside the "cork box” building, which was once a farm garage, we created a free-standing cube lined with cork, maintaining an architectural dialogue between the industrial brutality of the 1960s and traditional agricultural architecture. We also created Portugal's first contemporary hammam, which has won national and international awards for the quality of its architecture made from local marble.
The estate, a very dynamic regional economic and social centre, has been active for almost a century employing traditional agricultural production. In the 1980s, it was the first farm in Portugal to switch to organic farming, with an ecosystem delivered by rain-fed agriculture. This has enabled the continuity and preservation of the estate and the restoration of the built heritage. We arrived here in 1994 and after a long and painstaking transformation process, we have been offering sustainable ecotourism since 2008. With the help of a local architect, we carried out genuine research into the existing agricultural buildings at a time when restoration was rare in Portugal: the tendency was to raze everything and start again.
We offer an experience in a place deeply rooted in its environment. There is no television or background music. Here everything invites silence, or rather listening to nature, the birds, the wind... The exclusive hammam experience includes exfoliation and hydration using sea salt and naturally scented almond oil. We offer our guests a range of all-natural, organic, plastic-free products, with flavours inspired by the southern Mediterranean and named "8950", after our local postcode. Herbal teas from the farm are served in the relaxation room. We have an equipped area dedicated to yoga, pilates and mindfulness.
The Ria Formosa Nature Reserve has spectacular lagoon landscapes, perfect for birdwatching and seaside walks. The guided tour of the Salmarim artisan salt marshes shows the salt formation process and its extraction, and includes a blind tasting. "Taberna Remexida” in Rio Seco is a charming rural restaurant set in a farmhouse. Dishes are made using local produce, with meat, vegetarian and vegan options available. At "Sem Espinhas Cabeço", in Praia do Cabeço, the dishes feature fresh fish and seafood from the Algarve. "Bate Que Eu Abro" is a typical restaurant in Altura, serving quality products cooked in the traditional Portuguese way.
The property has four gîtes: the former oil mill, converted into a flat, and three duplex flats in the former sheepfold. The single-storey, 85 m² flat opens onto a spacious 55 m² living room with a kitchenette and a double sofa bed. A bedroom with a king-size bed and an en suite bathroom opens onto a private patio. The three duplex flats, each with their own private patio and pergola, span 92 m² over two levels. The ground floor comprises an open-plan living area with a kitchenette, double sofa bed and bathroom. Upstairs, two bedrooms - one with a king-size bed, the other with two single beds - share a bathroom and are separated by an interconnecting sliding door that means that the configuration can be adapted. The gites can be rented out as well as the main house, with a total capacity for 37 people.
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The property has four double bedrooms with en suite bathrooms and two suites, each with a double and a single bed. All are located in the main house. Breakfast is available on request and is served in the dining room.
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The house has four double bedrooms and two suites - one with a double bed and the other with a single bed - each with an en suite bathroom. The living areas include a lounge with a library and bar, a veranda, a dining room for 12, a professional kitchen, a large terrace and a swimming pool. Daily cleaning is included in the price. A catering service is available on request. The gites can be rented out as well as the main house, with a total capacity for 37 people.
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The corkbox, a space entirely covered in cork - the ceiling, walls and floor - is dedicated to yoga, pilates, meditation or other activities.
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