The data shows an increase in demand which has been accompanied by a growing response capacity in terms of overnight stays, confirming the consolidation of Santarém as a tourist destination of excellence.

The first visit started at the recently opened rural tourism Q.R. Casas de Campo, a high quality unit, where good taste, comfort and the equestrian component make this enterprise differentiating. António Ferreira, owner of the accommodation, praises the potential of Santarém stating that “the historic center of our city is beautiful, we have a reference gastronomy.”

Being the capital of Ribatejo, the horse is one of our biggest attraction factors.

António Ferreira, owner of Q.R. Casas de Campo

The following meetings took place at Quinta da Cabrita, Casa da Amieira and Quinta M. Just 45 minutes from Lisbon and 10 minutes from Santarém, Quinta Cabrita is an 18th century farm and its grounds, appealingly guarded by traditional custard-yellow walls and high gates. Within, cobbled paths wind around former farm buildings and shared spaces.

There are five houses, each refurbished in keeping with their rustic surroundings. Features like high ceilings combine with round picture windows, roll-top baths and open wood fires to surprise and delight. There are huge cabinets filled with ancient tomes and glassware, tactile wooden boxes, and original artworks.

Casa da Amieira is a family-owned-and-run boutique hotel, perfect for relaxed family holidays, or groups of friends seeking a luxurious spa weekend. Spa facilities include a pool with waterfall, jacuzzi, sauna, and massage and treatment rooms. All are attractively tiled and give a sense of both airiness and privacy. Hotel guests have free and exclusive use of the pool and jacuzzi.

The measures will give strength to our strategy of increasing the number of visitors coming to Santarém

João Leite, Vice-Mayor and in charge of Tourism in Santarém

At Quinta M, nature lovers will be won over by the prevailing well-being and will be able to enjoy an environment where authenticity and simplicity are the key words. Between nature and modernity, guests are able to discover and rediscover Portugal as never before. Stroll through the gardens, relax in the shade of an oak tree or renew yourself during a siesta by the pool.

Blending serenity, elegance and originality, the modern yurts at Quinta M invite guests to a true haven of peace. Each yurt is named after a Portuguese river and offers a great atmosphere of colors. A private terrace overlooking the farm in shades of green, yellow and orange inspires you to private moments in harmony with nature.

Teixeira Leite thanked the entrepreneurs for the bet made in Santarém, reinforcing that “the municipality needs everyone’s mobilization, the hotel units are our privileged strategic partners, we count, therefore, with you to divulge more and more Santarém. The measures we are implementing allied to the quality of our various hotel units.

The new Tourism website, the new flyers and the new tourist map, as well as the possibility of tourist units to use the municipality’s guided tour services for free, were measures presented by Teixeira Leite and very well received by entrepreneurs.

L’article Santarém promotes its rural tourism offer est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

He began buying small plots of land neighbouring his grandparents’ home, working hard to gain organic certification. His organic chickpeas and chícharos (an almost extinct variety of pea) recently won gold medals at the Santarém National Gastronomy Festival. He produces small batches of olive oil and other tempting goods – lemon curds, jams, chutneys, pestos, sun-dried tomatoes, honey – all of which he sells in premises that smell deliciously of French polish and beeswax.

After an enthusiastic welcome from Jorge’s dogs, and an engaging introduction to the work and yield of his olive oil cold press, which is all about quality not quantity, we climb into a battered 4×4 and go exploring. He tells of ‘dancing with nature’ rather than fighting it. Limestone clay hillsides and valleys eroded by rivers and time offer different possibilities according to their orientation. Vegetables are grown in the semi-shade of the valley floor; brush and scrubland are restored to hold the earth together and re-establish natural habitats for wild boar, badgers, and – the hope is –wildcats like the Iberian lynx.

When we met Jorge’s gentle-eyed horses and donkeys, he greeted each individually by name, nuzzling them. We also visited his bees and heard about traditional bee-keeping methods in naturally anti-bacterial and temperature-controlled cork. He told us about the simple ways he protects his hives from aggressive, invasive species. He hopes the bees may learn to protect themselves as some other bee species have, using the heat of the swarm to surround and ward off intruders.

Jorge’s passion for the land is seductive and moving – it’s easy to see why he does what he does as you gaze across groves where gnarled and silvered olive trees abide like living sculptures. He told me of one tree, dormant for four years, to which he one day sadly said his farewells. When he returned with his axe a week later, the tree had heeded his little nudge: it had sprouted back to life.

At a lane between two parcels of land, he recounts how the British incited local farmers to use a scorched-earth policy against the French 300 years ago. He explains a personal theory: that the larger, older trees visible at the corners of certain fields had been left untouched by those very farmers – to mark the boundaries of their land – in a silent promise they would return when the war was over.

The landscape is not just geology or geography, nor a means to an end. It’s history, our history, our human stories, says Jorge, his eyes crinkling as he talks. Every year he gives back to the land, planting a hundred trees – a project visitors can contribute to. For €30 pp, small groups can come here to learn about and work on the land for a day and eat a delicious lunch. No wine is produced (his meagre vines yield delicious grapes for eating) so instead of wine-tastings, he conducts olive oil tastings, helping visitors understand the subtleties and complexities of his trees’ precious fruit. Over 50 Landscape organic-certified products are available in farmshops around the area, and in baskets delivered by adults with learning disabilities to the Greater Lisbon region. All can be ordered in the online shop and delivered worldwide.

L’article Why you’ll fall in love with this Portuguese Landscape Farm est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Just 45 minutes from Lisbon and 10 minutes from Santarém, this is an 18^th century farm and its grounds, appealingly guarded by traditional custard-yellow walls and high gates. Within, cobbled paths wind around former farm buildings and shared spaces.

There are five houses, each tastefully refurbished in keeping with their rustic surroundings. Features like high ceilings combine with round picture windows, roll-top baths and open wood fires to surprise and delight. Items from the architect owners’ collection add character and style: huge cabinets filled with ancient tomes and glassware, tactile wooden boxes, and original artworks, all way more interesting than the usual generic offerings in hotels.

Each property has its own terrace area for sunbathing and outdoor eating, most of them facing west across the hillside to take advantage of gorgeous sunsets. Undulating lawns are dotted with shady and ancient trees (where a family of cute kittens played during our stay). The heating swimming pool is overlooked by a shared covered lounging area where you can eat and sip your cava or beer, and pretty lighting creates magic at dusk.

Breakfast is provided by the pool or in your house and kitchens in each property give you the chance to self-cater. Coffee and tea are supplied but if you want apéritifs by the pool (and I guarantee you will), I’d recommend going shopping before you arrive, because once you’ve passed through those tall green gates, you won’t want to leave. You’ll need to bring or buy the little things too, like salt, pepper, herbs, and oil.

Prices range from 85 euros per night for a T1 studio in low season and up to 180 euros per night for a T2 in high season.

2. Quinta do Arrobe

We were welcomed here like long-lost cousins. Quinta do Arrobe offers tasting stays, meeting and events rooms. 7 simple one and two-bedroom cabins are ranged among the trees outside. These are brand new, smallish but neat and clean and perfect if you’re not expecting to spend a lot of time indoors. A larger block offers a shared space to meet and hang out.

Meanwhile inside the main house, the aroma of fresh baking greeted us. An open-plan living room unites a cosy lounge corner, a convivial dining table and a large fireplace. The impressive wooden mantlepiece from the owner’s previous house serves as a constant reminder of family and continuity at the heart of the space. There are a further two traditionally-furnished bedrooms, one twin and a double with an eye-catching old cartwheel in the bedframe.

The owners here welcomed us to their table, while their enormous, gentle dog snored by the fire. To accompany a warm and generous family lunch they took us through a flight of their wines. More on that tasting in a later article.

3. Quinta Carvalhas

Set in rolling countryside, this wellness retreat is utterly gorgeous. South African owners Richard and Michelle have built a circle of like-minded friends and colleagues in this rural community and their hard work and mindset is evident in every aspect of what’s on offer here. Yoga, vegan and vegetarianism, and self-reliance form the backbone of the philosophy, but if you’re thinking this means roughing it with clothsacks, think again.

The accommodation is composed of very generous en-suite rooms and apartments with stunningly high-end furnishings and finishes. Sympathetic renovations allow the history of the building and the region to shine through – bare limestone walls, exquisite tiling, wood-burning stoves in the gorgeous bar and pool area, and a firepit in the heart of the courtyard for chatting into the evening. It really is breathtakingly lovely.

You can wander in a mediation garden of tinkling fountains, gently winding paths and lush planting. Animal lovers will delight in the property’s friendly dogs and horse interaction therapy is available. Michelle recounted her desire to make everyone feel like family here. It’s a place to they want you to relax, recharge, and return,. Richard told me of his passion for learning to cook vegetarian and vegan food for large groups – his latest favourite is sure to make your mouth water: gluten-free potato gnocchi with pea and nut pesto, roast pine-nuts and vegetables. Hungry for yoga yet anyone?

4. Quinta Monteiro de Matos

For lovers of caravanning, Quinta Monteiro de Matos offers spaces for 4 to 5 caravans, with electricity and water, plus views across the vine-studded hillside. Guests can make use of the stylish terrace attached to the visually-arresting eno-tourism centre and events room.

Alongside the hosts in their modern restaurant, we ate a delicious lunch of oven-baked pork ribs with roast potatoes, salad and olives, with floor to ceiling vistas. As well as their multi-award winning wines, they have their own olive oil from 100 trees, pressed and bottled by a neighbour. More accommodation is planned, so this place is one non-caravanners to bookmark too.

5. Casa da Amieira

This family-owned-and-run boutique hotel is perfect for relaxed family holidays, or groups of friends seeking a luxurious spa weekend (bachelorette party anyone?). We enjoyed coffee in their tasteful library, had a delicious brunch on their sunny terrace (in November!), and couldn’t wait to explore further.

Spa facilities include a pool with waterfall, jacuzzi, sauna, and massage and treatment rooms. All are attractively tiled and give a sense of both airiness and privacy. Hotel guests have free and exclusive use of the pool and jacuzzi.

Outside there’s another pool, open May to late September, but wait until you hear about the gardens! Resting on undulating lawns are 8 bungalows (in addition to the 10 hotel rooms inside the converted family house). These are newly constructed, clad in attractive cork tiles with an expert balance of smart and cosy in the décor. They offer varying sizes of accommodation.

What’s more, the hotel has some permanent residents you may want to meet. Sheep, rabbits, peacocks and even meerkats! I didn’t want to leave.

L’article 5 best rural tourism spots around Santarém est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

In June 2020, at the height of the pandemic, a unique form of tourism was born in Cadaval, less than an hour from Lisbon. Bagos de Vilar is the brainchild of Maria Mackay Pereira, who decided to restore the old Vine and Wine Institute in Cadaval and turn it into an unusual place to stay: old wine vats. “Come sleep where wine has slept,” is one of the sayings at Bagos de Vilar. Beds are suspended in the air, which adds a particular feeling to the already unusual atmosphere.

Bagos de Vilar is located in the parish of Vilar, in the municipality of Cadaval, about 80 kilometers from Lisbon. With room service, terrace in each bungalow, garden and pool, amenities and private bathroom, breakfast included, comfort is guaranteed.

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Its history, the perfect decoration and the details that are starting to attract the attention of visitors. Positive reviews have started to appear on the different booking platforms.

Mackay Pereira’s previous experience in the tourism sector, combined with the desire to invest in sustainability, allowed her to recover a space that had been abandoned for years, creating something useful and beautiful and allowing their guests a “unique and special” experience associated with a minimalist concept and the tranquility of nature: people sleeping where the wine has already slept.

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Each tank or vat of wine from the old vineyard and wine institute was given the name of a Portuguese wine variety, as a way of paying tribute to the West region. There were transformed into either a Bungalow room, or one of the Bagos.

To book, there are 14 rooms available, between Standard Bungalows and Superior Bungalows. There are Bungalows for couples, for families, and for groups. Besides breakfast and swimming pool, the tourism offers massage service, Wi-Fi internet, both outside and in all rooms, and parking. It is also pet friendly.

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Mackay Pereira is especially grateful towards the municipality, without whose help the project would not have been possible. Room prices start at 70€ per night.

L’article You can now sleep in a wine barrel in Portugal est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Nestled between the countryside and the ocean, the Craveiral Farmhouse is located in São Teotónio, Alentejo, Portugal, and is part of the Blank Residency project, which is the result of a partnership with the London-based platform Blank100.

The project aims to offer guest artists accommodation and a workplace that goes far beyond the walls of an office. One of the purposes is to encourage them to develop their creativity outdoors. The Craveiral Farmhouse has already been the artistic residence of a group, according to Beatriz Neto, director of operations.

The program was carried out for the first time between January 5 and 26, 2021, thanks to a partnership proposed by Carla Benzing, German curator, and Nadine Cordial, who intend not only to foster creativity, but also to increase the sharing of ideas among artists. Another important goal is to stimulate the use of sustainable and reusable products.

1. A creative and inspiring project

Blank100 is a project supporting artistic exchange, started in a former furniture factory in Dalston, London. In just 15 months, Blank100 has developed exhibitions, talks, and events, connecting several visual artists.

The Craveiral Farmhouse provides each artist with an apartment, working materials, and the possibility to create outdoors. The program also intends to include lectures, activities and group dinners with the goal of promoting interaction among the participants.

To the first edition attended Alice Morey and Dennis Buck from Germany, Gonçalo Sena from Portugal, Marlene Huissoud from France, and Violetta Ehnsperg from Austria, “artists who used, for example, a tree trunk and a fishbone for their creations,” said Beatriz Neto. “This creative retreat will again receive artists between February 1 and 27, 2022, with an event on the 26th of that month, where several works of art will be on display.”

2. The bet on the planet’s improvement and sustainability

The concept that guides Blank100 is straight forward. The belief in the community, the conviction that the right platform is necessary for ideas to flow, and the respect for nature. One of the goals of the Craveiral Farmhouse, as a partner in this project, was to present itself as a space for reflection and creativity, with nature as a backdrop, in times of pandemic. Now more than ever it wishes to continue with the initiative, which aims to bring together artists from all over Europe, giving them a space to create.

According to Beatriz Neto, an important objective of the project is “the improvement and sustainability of our planet”. A goal that will certainly become more and more concrete as more editions are added. On the other hand, in each edition, the artists who are part of the initiative are invited to leave one of their works at the Craveiral FarmHouse, and some of the rooms are decorated with those pieces of art.

Known for its magnificent wild beaches and natural parks, the Alentejo region entices the artistic approach of each work to be different. Because of its unique nature, the Alentejo inspires refined creation.

This artistic retreat mainly supports those who wish to improve their environmental impact by using more natural and ecological materials, as well as betting on recycling processes. In short, the respect for nature at Craveiral Farmhouse is key. One detail that is worth mentioning is that the apartments are self-sufficient and if artists want, they are free to use and cultivate the orchards.

3. Other activities

The Craveiral Farmhouse offers the opportunity to admire landscapes cradled by the warm breeze of the Alentejo. At the farmhouse, time seems to stop and there are moments when the only thing you can hear are the birds. Besides the pleasure of doing nothing, you can enjoy a diversity of experiences that range from horseback riding, quad biking, yoga, and picking fresh produce from the vegetable garden.

You can also have picnics, bike tours and jeep rides, canoeing, fishing, scuba diving, and paddling. I would also like to point out that at Craveiral, the concept “from the vegetable garden to the table” is being created by Chef Alexandre Silva, holder of a Michelin star.

Soon the Craveiral FarmTable will be launched. It will have outdoor tables, in a wonderful communion with nature, betting on what is authentic, cooking with 70% of ingredients from the garden and orchard and 30% ingredients from producers in the Odemira region. If you want excellent and healthy meals, this is the right place.

If you have children, there are also activities available for them. If you would like to take your dog or cat on vacation, Craveiral is pet friendly, having created the ideal conditions to welcome your best friend.

In short, the Craveiral Farmhouse is creative space which values ideas, nature and art, and where, thanks to the partnership with Blank100, guests can interact with artists. They will have the privilege of observing the evolution of each work firsthand, while enjoying a unique space in deep connection with nature, always with eyes set on the plain and feet resting on the soil.

L’article Craveiral Farmhouse. A place for artistic exchange in the heart of Alentejo est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

Since its opening in 2018, the Quintas’ unique proposal of staying in a giant barrel has been a real pull for visitors, not only to Quinta da Pacheca, but also to the region. Besides having opened reservations for 2022 and 2023, there are some periods which have completely sold out, in the specific case of barrels. This does not mean that it is impossible to book a date until then: you can still find several free nights on the site in the coming months/years. It’s just getting more difficult to find them.

The Wine Barrels were designed by the architect Henrique Pinto and are located in a high area of the property, with a stunning view over the vineyards. They opened in Quinta da Pacheca, which started out as a producer of Douro and Port wines and a beautiful wine tourism facility. It is also one of the oldest vineyards still operating in the Douro region. Located in Cambres, Alto Douro, in the Lamego region, it has remained a focus of wine tourism since 1998.

Next to it, operating since 2008 as a hotel unit, The Wine House Hotel was created, which joins lodging and wine tourism. It adds grape harvests, history, and nature. The elegant four-star rural hotel was built in a typical 18th century house and its main structure has 15 rooms equipped with furniture of the period. In the rest of the space, guests have access to the gourmet kitchen which offers meals with local products and a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. It is also possible to taste and buy the wine produced at Quinta da Pacheca.

As if this weren’t enough, 10 wine barrels were added in July 2018. The Pacheca Wine Barrels, a type of accommodation that, only a few months old won the “Best Real Estate Development” award at the Lisbon Real Estate Exhibition in October of the same year. They are not really barrels, they are luxurious double suites with 35 square meters, a skylight to see the stars, a deck with a view over the vineyards, and custom-made furniture.

In August of 2020, 25 more rooms were inaugurated, most of which have fantastic views over the Douro. The new wing of The Wine House Hotel at Quinta da Pacheca doubled the number of beds in the hotel unit and is adjacent to the main building of the estate. The focus was on a more contemporary look without spoiling the original architecture. The rooms were designed not only for couples. There are options suitable for entire families.

Last year an elegant spa was also inaugurated, equipped with an indoor pool, Scottish shower, and a series of therapeutic and wellness treatments. A new 17 by 5 meters outdoor pool was also installed, and the goal is to use it in the hot summer days, with breaks to taste the Pacheca wines served at the bar.

It is also possible to make an incursion into the world of art in the ‘Atelier d’Or’, with resident artist Óscar Rodrigues, who organizes workshops of several kinds: pottery, sculpture or painting.

The pandemic has inhibited most people from traveling but Quinta da Pacheca guarantees that all safety measures are taken in terms of hygiene of spaces and physical distance between guests and staff. Prices for Wine Barrels start at 250€, with breakfast included.

L’article Quinta da Pacheca: Wine barrels to sleep in full comfort by the Douro est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The fact remains that international travelers are generally attracted by its mountains, trekking in the mid-hills, UNESCO heritage sites in Kathmandu valley and National Parks in southern terai are the highlights of their trip to Nepal.

This reminded me a trip to Tuscany in Italy in 2014 when I visited a few local farms that hosted visitors from Germany and other European countries. It was wonderful to learn that the agri-tourism program aimed to promote and protect rural culture, local food and wine traditions, and agricultural development – while allowing farm owners to diversify their income with tourism.

It gave me a counter question. Why doesn’t Jhapa district strive for positioning as an agri-tourism destination, catering to the city dwellers in Kathmandu who are looking for authentic rural experiences within Nepal. Bhadrapur, one of the oldest municipalities in Nepal, has a population of only 66,629 with 195,672 hectares of agricultural land growing cereal crops (paddy, wheat and maize) as well as vegetable and fruits in a traditional way.

In a conversation with the mayor of Bhadrapur, Mr. Jeevan Shrestha, I found him very optimistic and determined to empower local youth through innovation in agriculture and promoting tourism attraction. He is very hopeful that it is an achievable dream as Bhadrapur enjoys a pristine environment, greenery all around, better road network, regular flights between Kathmandu and Bhadrapur (one-way flight 50 minutes) and the Tea gardens of Ilam or Darjeeling at a 2 to 4 hrs driving distance.

When properly planned and executed, domestic as well as international travelers will surely enjoy a slice of rural life, a rendez-vous with local people including the tribal community, and to experience warm eastern Nepali hospitality at its best. Needless to say, this will increase the income of local people, empower local families and ensure transfer of knowledge/expansion of network as well.

Bhadrapur must learn from other destinations like Bandipur in Nepal or Alberta in Canada. In order to turn this into reality, the local leaders and planners should come up with a well-crafted plan and orientation/training on basics of hospitality with a focus on hygiene and safety.

A great number of travelers will start exploring as soon as the fear of Covid-19 is contained; they will start travelling to new destinations in their own country first. Hence many more rural tourism destinations may come up, making ‘Country Experience First’ the next normal of Tourism across the globe.

L’article Rural Tourism in Bhadrapur, Nepal est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

1. Arriving at a small piece of Italian paradise

What does Poggio mean? The word itself implies top of a mountain and often also means a small hotel located there. Poggio ai Santi probably has one of the best views from the little hill it’s lying on. To the one side, you see the deep blue, sparkling sea, Elba island, and on a clear day, Corsica. On the other side, there are green, lush mountains, a few secluded houses, and plenty of olive groves. 

I arrived by train on a sunny Wednesday afternoon. I hopped into a car, and after 10 minutes, I reached this beautiful, natural, and calm small piece of Italian paradise. Terracotta coloured bricks decorate the beige main building, green leaves wind up the walls, plants, flowers are everywhere. The house is the heart of the Poggio; this is where the family, running the place, used to live in the beginnings of their life project. Nowadays, the building hosts four rooms, the reception, the exceptional restaurant, and the experimental and modern cocktail bar. There’s also a very cosy open area. Sofas are filled with comfortable pillows. A fireplace, relaxing music, and the owner’s two amiable dogs, Hortensia and Iris, that you’ll be able to spot here sometimes will comfort you.

2. Feeling home away from home

As is adequate, I started my stay with a strong espresso. I learned that there are two types of Italians; the ones who drink the liquid dark gold in a porcelain cup and the others who prefer it from one made of glass. I went with a porcelain one. With a small caffeine rush, I went up a flight of stairs, where Alessandra, an essential part of the Poggio family, showed me my room: No 7. A spacious room, warmly lit by several vintage lamps, paintings as well as old posters and woven baskets, welcomed me. Once alone, I jumped onto the comfortable large bed to relax a bit before unpacking and having dinner. I immediately felt at home and was excited to spend the next four and a half days in this peaceful place.

Well rested, I unpacked my suitcase in no time since I left lots of space for the quite likely export of Italian wine, olive oil, and pasta. I heard pasta is worth more than gold in Europe these days. Since I’m turning 30 in a month, I figured the time was ripe for an investment of such kind.

All rooms are very airy with a tasteful interior, some more modern and some equipped with antique, dark wooden furniture. The Poggio offers up to 20 rooms of all kinds and sizes. Among them, four bungalows, surrounded by bare nature and high cypresses. Guests staying there are overlooking the beautiful landscape of this unique place.

I spotted the pool from my room, overlooking olive groves, large rosemary bushes, and the garden, Italian nature at its purest. My new, Swedish me for a second thinks about jumping into the cold water. Still, my German-Polish me quickly lets go of that highly adventurous idea. Also, the pool is closed for the season. It’s late October, after all.  

3. It’s all about the people – both hosts and guests

On my first evening, I went down for dinner a bit early. Luca, the waiter, and sommelier offered me a glass of Vermentino. He knows a lot about Italian and Tuscan wines, so we talked about it several times during my stay. While still nibbling on the homemade celery Grissini that came with the wine, Francesca and Dominique arrived, with whom I had dinner scheduled for that night. The two are the very welcoming, warm, and open owners of Poggio ai Santi.

Francesca has a big and incredibly friendly smile. Both her and Dominique radiate a sense of calm and positivity. Francesca is an energetic woman fascinated by nature, animals, and the dynamics around it, already in her very young years. Her dream has always been to create a place that focuses on sustainability, paying attention to great produce while respecting Mother Earth. She is a ‘workhorse,’ as her son Giulio proudly described her. He runs the local, popular bar Sal8 (Salotto, meaning living room) together with Federico. A spot that becomes a vivid place of laughter and joy every evening. It’s all about teamwork here; within the family, but also together with all the lovely staff. This requires a lot of work and time.

Francesca decorated the guests’ rooms, the restaurant, and common areas. Also, it was she herself who planted every single olive tree that is used for the homemade, fragrant olive oil. I was lucky enough to try it over dinner that same evening. It has a very smooth taste with a hint of pleasant bitterness, and I think I also discovered the scent of young herbs and green tomatoes.

We talked a lot about how their concept is possible: to live in the place they work at and being available for their guests all day round. The secret is giving to people and getting something back through good conversations with guests and together appreciating the nature around the Poggio and the unique calm and peacefulness.

During dinner, Dominique also said that people might think they get lonely at the Poggio, out in nature, but the opposite is the case. “I meet more people here than I would ever meet by living in an apartment in Florence or Milan.” Intriguing conversations, making guests happy makes almost every day a different one.

4. What mother nature has to offer

On my first morning, I walked into the kitchen, where everyone was busy preparing ingredients for the day. The two Japanese chefs Shimpei, Sayuri, and the Italian chef Lisa are seasoning fresh fish, filling paper-thin Tortellini with homemade stuffing, and cutting fresh and wrinkly, black kale from the garden. The philosophy behind the food served at Il Sale, the Poggio’s restaurant, is to use all things mother nature gives you. In a simple but creative way, they extract all flavours an ingredient can offer. Seasonality and regionality are of the highest importance.

Everything you’ll find on your plate during breakfast, lunch, or dinner is carefully sourced. Olive oil, vegetables, and white meat come from the Poggio itself. The 40 acres of land surrounding the property offer plenty of space for growing colourful tomatoes, little pumpkins, fragrant herbs of all kinds, quince, and so many more things. It’s almost daily that the menu changes. The chefs are inspired by what the local butcher, the fishmonger, or the garden offer. Jams, like their apple and rose ones, are also homemade, as are the preserves, pickled vegetables, and the bread. The bread is made on a sourdough base, which you don’t often find in Italy. Sayuri told me the secret behind the formula: a mix of different Tuscan ancient grains, Farro, and a lot of time and feel for the flour.

I will talk more about the very talented and experienced crew another time, as there simply is too much to say.

5. Time to leave and soon come back

Waking up with the first sunbeams on my face, I know it’s time to go back home. I open the window to breathe in the last time all the scents that I won’t be smelling for some time now: warm Mediterranean air, accompanied by a light marine breeze and the scent of fresh herbs and plants. Breakfast is ready, and I’m happy to see the homemade sourdough bread and brioche neatly fitted into a breadbasket again. Like every morning, I get some very flavourful, artisan salami, cured ham, Pecorino cheese, as well as homemade jams, fruits, and eggs from the Poggio’s hens. One day I even tasted a very creamy and fresh sheep’s Ricotta that spoiled me for the rest of my life.

I jump into the car again, this time equipped with some preserves to take home and remind me about this beautiful place. Homemade tomato sauce, ripe red tomatoes, and apricot jam will help me to survive Swedish winter. Grazie, e ci rivediamo presto!

How to reach Poggio ai Santi?

45 minutes away from Pisa airport and 75 minutes away from Florence airport. Two train ride hours away from Florence and three from Rome. 

L’article Poggio ai Santi. Nature, delicious food, and amazing people est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.

The passion of someone who created a space, raising it from the ruins dating from the 19th century, runs in his voice. Everything was rebuilt with materials found on the property and planned with the same love as if it were done just for him and his family. 
The inspiration for the decoration of the suites came from the trips he made to Africa, he loves the warm colors of Morocco and even cut tiles by hand, so that they look similar to the places that inspired him so much.

Above all, the owner, wanted to share his homestead with guests in an intimate way, as if they were family, but never thought that the success would be so great, to the point of having to move with his wife and daughter to a small wooden house on the estate, due to the very high occupancy rate. He left his job as a banker and aviculture entrepreneur behind, to dedicate to Herdade do Amarelo which became more self-sustainable in terms of resources.

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1. Self-sustainability: A Natural Process

Fernando Almeida says he never made self-sustainability his flag, but it happened naturally. The water comes from a borehole and is heated by solar panels, the breakfasts served on the property are made with some local products. In the estate they mainly have olive trees and produce olive oil, they also have orange trees, lemon trees, vines, grow lettuce, among other vegetables and fruit.

In addition, they also have animals, a pony called Pinguim for being black and white, a donkey named Amarelinha, a name curiously assigned by the first guests of the estate, and sheep and goats, who walk happily in some places of the property.

At Herdade do Amarelo you live slowly. You enjoy the surroundings, the open air, the nearby places are a complement for those who like to stay around this area. The traditional commerce, the old taverns and the food that the owner says is a “constant discovery”, make the delights of those who visit them. There are wonderful seafood and oysters on the Mira River, people fish and have all the resources to be self-sustainable.

Perhaps due to all the discoveries it provides, the estate continues to be full, even in a pandemic time. The owner says that he follows the rules of the General Directorate of Health, and that he has already exceeded the result, in relation to the homologous period of the previous year.

2. The Bet on Romance

The 12 suites inspired by Morocco, the Arab influence and also by traditional Portuguese houses, attract lovers, the suites are superb for romantic getaways or wedding nights. Inside the room everything inspires love… the warm tones, the private spa, or even the fireplace for those traveling in winter. Nights with candles and champagne or whatever else that may be part of your imagination, may also be included.

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In all suites you can lie down on your bed or take a relaxing bubble bath and still continue to enjoy the impressive panoramic view of the estate. Everything was thought to stimulate love, the dream, the imagination, the reflection, the truth that exists in each one of us and leave behind our agitated lifestyle. The deepest authenticity of the human being emerges in the silence of the countryside, 7 km from the sea of ​​Vila Nova de Mil Fontes.

Outside, the landscape remains idyllic. At the estate, guests have two magnificent saltwater pools and two paths with two and five kilometers long, which can be covered on foot. In one of them, a stream runs and the sound of the running water makes the walk even more relaxing and peaceful, everything provides a disconnection from the stress in which one usually lives.

Because there is no pollution, at night the stars become much more visible, so there are beds scattered around the estate, for those who want to observe the sky in detail, comfortably, and in an environment of absolute romance.

The experiences offered by the place include small boat trips, romantic packages, picnics, massages and a spa. Marvel at the jacuzzi suspended in a breathtaking landscape or go horseback riding on the beach during the winter, next to Pessegueiro Island. If you want, you can still take a tour on the 400 superb kilometers of the Vincentina route.

3. The Owner of Time

The owner says that he feels he is the “owner of time”, which is why he already thinks about creating another agrotourism, this time in the north of the country, perhaps because he knows that the realization of his dreams brings love and tranquility to many people, and within places like this they can’t know what day of the week it is.

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This is the sublime miracle that the countryside and the sea provide to those who let their soul dream and calm down. The challenge he pursues is this … to remain the true “owner of time.” A time that just seems to have stopped, at the estate that went by the name, “Amarelo”, color of the earth and schist. Find the golden light of this unique place. And don’t take a watch with you.

L’article The place that stopped time: agritourism in Portugal est apparu en premier sur Travel Tomorrow.