Solares de Portugal developed new thematic tours Solares de Portugal wants to promote quality tourism, so we created new thematic routes. The strategy has been driven by a determination to provide visitors with a quality experience in keeping with the special character and heritage of the buildings and the natural environment of the area. Rural areas often have small scale and widely dispersed enterprises, communities and administrative structures. The relationship between tourism, agriculture and other sectors in the local rural economy is increasingly important. Many different players are involved. Natural resources, cultural traditions, transport services and a whole range of tourism enterprises have an influence on the visitor experience, and in turn are affected by tourism impact. For these reasons, an integrated quality management approach to tourism is very relevant in rural areas. The first tour is “The Excellence of the Gardens”, where you can find the great green fields and the big mountains all around the country. In Minho you can visit Ponte de Lima and its great gardens, like Parque Temático do Arnado. Here, you can also discover Casas Antigas, Quintas e Herdades e Casas Rústicas. They also have beautiful gardens, such as Casa do Outeiro and Paço de Calheiros. In Guimarães, you can visit Casa de S. Cipriano with its Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt splendid garden. Near Cabeceiras de Basto stays Casa da Tojeira, positioned in the romantic valley of the river Tâmega. Casa do Campo, near Celorico de Basto, boasts a prizewinning garden, with its immaculately trimmed Camellias contoured into graceful designs. Specialists claim that the oldest Camellia in Portugal is to be found here. Casa das Paredes, close to Fafe, is surrounded by a romantic garden with ornamental ponds. Also there is a small lake with running water and ancient camellias. If you prefer to travel on Douro, you must visit Casa de Santo António de Britiande, at about 5 km from Lamego. This house is situated on the outskirt of the famous Douro Valley. Serra da Estrela is a very beautiful place to visit, also. Quinta da Ponte, at about 13 km from Guarda, is situated in the Natural Park of Serra da Estrela by a Roman bridge over the river Mondego, and it has a box garden laid out in 1740. In the South of Portugal, you can find Palácio de Rio Frio, in Pinhal Novo, at about 10 km from Montijo, and Quinta da Orada, in Albufeira, this one is surrounded by orchards and has a romantic garden. The second tour - “Traditions of Agroturismo” – allows you to discover and participate in the Solares de Portugal agricultural activities. You can make bread and cheese, you can produce wine and oil at Quinta da Bela Vista, in Castelo de Vide, Monte da Corte Ligeira, in Beja, Solar das Arcas, in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Quinta da Roseira, Casa da Várzea and Casa das Torres, these three in Ponte de Lima, Convento da Franqueira and Quinta de Santa Comba, both in Barcelos and Quinta da Mata, in Chaves. The “Ecotourism” is another route to those who like to walk, to ride a bike our practice sea sports. In Ponte de Lima we suggest a walk on the “ecovia” and on the Bertiandos lagoon. Next to it is Casa da Lage and Casa do Tamanqueiro. You can also ride a bike from Ponte de Lima to Quinta do Rei, Casa de Covas, Casa de Gaiba and Casa de S. Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt Gonçalo. If you prefer historical tours you can choose Casa do Salgueirinho because it is located in the route of the French invasion. If you pick the sea, you can stay in Viana do Castelo, where there are beaches with the Blue Flag. Casa do Ameal, Casa Grande da Bandeira and Quinta do Monteverde are next to the Atlantic Ocean where you can surf and windsurf. You can also fish in Paredes de Coura, at Quinta da Casa do Paço, in Ponte da Barca, at Quinta da Prova, in Guimarães, at Casa do Ribeiro, in Arcos de Valdevez, at Casa de Avelar, Quinta da Parada do Vez and Quinta de Cortinhas, in Vila Real, at Casa Agrícola da Levada and in Castelo de Paiva, at Solar de Miragaia. In the Alentejo you can also make long walks specially created by Quinta da Bela Vista, in Castelo de Vide and Monte da Corte Ligeira, in Beja. In the Azores you can fins biodiversity and meet dolphins. Here you can stay at Casa das Barcas, in S. Roque, Pico Island, at Quinta dos Figos, in Terceira Island, and at Casa das Calhetas, in S. Miguel Island. Portugal wines are very well known and international awarded. To allow you to know theses wines, Solares de Portugal created the “Wine Tour”. The famous Alentejo Wine is produced in our houses in Beja, at Monte da Corte Ligeira, and in Castelo de Vide, at Quinta da Bela Vista. The Bairrada Wine is made at Quinta de S. Lourenço, in Anadia. You can find and tast Douro Wine at Casa dos Varais and Casa das Torres da Oliveira, these two located in Peso da Régua. If your option is to taste the Dão Wine you have to go to Solar Abreu Madeira, in Viseu, or Quinta da Comenda, in São Pedro do Sul. Quinta da Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt Comenda also has biological agriculture. Last but not the least is the Vinho Verde (Verde Wine). You can drink at Casa da Tojeira, in Cabeceiras de Basto, at Casa do Canedo, in Celorico de Basto, at Casa de Sezim, in Guimarães, at Paço de Calheiros and Casa do Barreiro, these two houses in Ponte de Lima, at Quinta do Paço d’Anha, in Viana do Castelo and at Convento da Franqueira, in Barcelos. “Artesanato and Traditions” is another tour. You can find our artesanato (handmade objects made by artisans) and visit our fairs and local markets. Casa de Campo, in Celorico de Basto, has an artesanato store; Quinta da Calçada, in Melgaço, has na etnographic collection; Casa de Alfena, in Póvoa do Lanhoso, lodges a Gold Museum; Casa do Ameal, in Viana do Castelo, shows the vianesa dresses. Moinho de Estorãos, in Ponte de Lima, is a pretty water mill, retaining the old water Wheel and grindstone. In theses days some travels prefer to spend their holiday in spas, thermal-spas and gymnasiums to do fitness and be healthiness. Therefore we developed “Mind and Body”. In Monção and Melgaço, the local thermal-spas are very looked for water treatments. For staying you have Casa de Rodas, at about 2 km from Monção, or Quinta de Santo António, at about 12 km from Monção and Quinta da Calçada, in Melgaço. Estância Termal do Eirôgo, another thermal-spa, is located in Barcelos, where Solares have Casa dos Assentos, Quinta do Sourinho, and Casa de Sequiade. In Santo Tirso you have accomodation at Quinta da Picaria and you can make your treatments is the thermal-spa Caldas da Saúde. Located between lakes and Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt mountains, in the heart of Parque Nacional da Peneda-Gerês, are the thermal-spas of Gerês and Caldelas. Near these spas are Casa dos Lagos, in Braga, Quinta do Sorilhal, in Vieira do Minho and Quinta de São Bento, in Vila de Prado, at about 6 km from Braga. In Trásos-Montes the Vidago and Caldas de Chaves thermal-spas offer you natural landscapes and leasure. You can spend the night at Quinta da Mata, in Chaves and Casa da Avó, in Torre de Moncorvo. Caldas de Felgueira thermal-spa, in Canas de Senhorim, invites you to a splendid location. Here we suggest you Solar Abreu Madeira. Marco de Canavezes and Penafiel have their local thermal-spas, too. Casa do Cotto, in Felgueiras is a good option to spend the night. Cabeço de Vide thermal-spa is from the Roman era. Even the Romans have baths in those waters. Quinta da Bela Vista in Castelo de Vide can accomodate you. If your holidays are in the Azores, you can try Furnas thermal-spa and spend the night in Casa das Calhetas. But Solares de Portugal have their own spas: Casa da Tojeira, in Cabeceiras de Basto, has sauna, Turkish bath and jet-stream; Quinta do Albergue do Bonjardim, in Nesperal, at about 8 km from Sertã, has Turkish bath, sauna and indoor swimmingpool; and Quinta do Casal, in Facha, Ponte de Lima, has two swimmingpools (indoor and outside) and a gym. The “Gastronomy Tour” allows you to taste our food. We have the cod fish, the arroz de sarrabulho, the migas and açorda, or even the “fresh fish”. You can eat the famous leitão da Bairrada at Vila Duparchy, in Mealhada and at Quinta de S. Lourenço, in Anadia;you can taste Serra da Estrela Cheese at Quinta do Torrozelo and Casa das Tílias, both in Seia, or at Quinta de São Caetano, in Viseu and Casa da Comenda de Malta, in Sernancelhe. Casa do Cimo, in Fundão, produces its own cheese. The carne maronesa (maronesa meat) is created in Vila Real. You can eat it at Casa de Vilarinho de São Romão, in Sabrosa, and at Casa Agrícola da Levada, in Vila Real. Our neighbours from Spain appreciate our arroz de Lampreia (Lampreia rice). If Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt you stay at Casa da Eira, in Valença, you can try it. But if you prefer fresh fish, then you have to go to Casa do Castelo, in Peniche. In Ponte de Lima, at Quinta da Aldeia, Quinta do Baganheiro and Casa de Crasto, you can try arroz and papas de Sarrabulho. “The golf Tour” is another route. The Algarve has special conditions to practice this sport. There are some golf fiels such as Parque da Floresta, Alto Golf, Penina, Quinta do Lago, Salgados and Pine Clifs, and here you can rest at Quinta da Orada, in Albufeira, and Casa da Palmeirinha, in Portimão. In Lisbon and Vale do Tejo we have the golf fields Penha Longa, Quinta da Beloura, C.G. Estoril and Aroeira. In this region, Solares suggest you Quinta da Praia das Fonte, in Alcochete, Quinta de Vale Mourelos, in Caparica and Palácio de Rio Frio, in Montijo. In the center of our country, we have Vimeiro, Atlantico Golf, Praia d’el Rey and Golden Eagle golf fields. Casa d’Óbidos, Casa do Castelo, in Peniche and Casa do Foral, in Rio Maior, are excellent options to spend the night. In the North, Estela Golf Clube, in Póvoa do Varzim, Quinta da Barca, in Esposende, and Campo de Golfe de Ponte de Lima, are three very beautiful golf fields. Here you can find Casa de Anquião, inside the ponte de Lima Golf, Casa de Outeiro, Casa da Lage, Casa das Torres and Casa de Crasto, all of them near Ponte de Lima. You have also the Oporto Golf Club. There you can rest at Quinta da Granja, in Maia. The Amarante Golfe Clube and the Golfe do Vidago with 2540mts are other two options. Solares de Portugal suggests you Casa da Pedra, in Amarante, and Quinta da Mata in Chaves. Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt “Raça Lusitana – Horses Tour” allows you to meet our horses with pure lusitana race. You can ride theses horses in our houses such as at Quinta da Agra and Paço de Calheiros, both in Ponte de Lima, at Quinta da Mata, in Chaves, at Quinta da Praia das Fontes, in Alcochete, and Palácio de Rio Frio, in Pinhal Novo, near Montijo. If you want to find wild horses, our garranos, you can go to the National Park of Peneda Gerês, and climb to Mezio, Soajo, and visit Quinta das Cortinhas in Arcos de Valdevez. On the other side of the National Park is located Quinta do Sorrilhal, in Vieira do Minho, where you can see garranos, too. Monte da Corte Ligeira, in Beja, has little horses. The last tour is “Azulejos”. This tour gives you the opportunity to discover the Portuguese azulejos (tiles). This decorative element was brought to Portugal in the XV Century. Today you can find tiles everywhere in the country such as the Manor Houses. Quinta de Cortinhas, in Arcos de Valdevez, Casa do Barreiro, in Ponte de Lima and Palácio de Rio Frio, in Pinhal Novo, have some walls completely covered with colourful tiles. Also there are very interesting tile panels and walls in the Portuguese train stations, like S. Bento, in Porto, Aveiro and Pinhão. If you want to visit Douro and make a travel by locomotive between Régua and Pinhão, you can spend some nights at Casa de Vilarinho de S. Romão, in Sabrosa, or at Casa dos Varais, in Peso da Régua. These are the ten tours created by Solares de Portugal that allow guests to meet the heritage, the traditions and to enjoy the environment and the ambiance of the historical Manors. Solares de Portugal Praça da República - 4990 Ponte de Lima - PORTUGAL PHONE: (+351) 258 931750 FAX: (+351) 258 931320 EMAIL: [email protected] URL: www.solaresdeportugal.pt