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Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site

Photo gallery for Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site

Aerial view of Casa do Celeiro and surrounding Serra
Pool  house and sea
Entrance gate
Access path to Cottage entrance
Front terrace and pergola facing garden and Atlantic (opposite Cottage entrance)

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 6170 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

Map
Sintra
  • Cape Roca
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Adraga Beach
    ‪11 min drive‬
  • Pena Palace
    ‪14 min drive‬
  • Cascais (CAT)
    ‪33 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 3

1 Double Bed

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Bidet · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Bathtub or shower · Bidet · Toilet

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Balcony
Outdoor play area
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Cottage (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms) accommodates 6 people.
Casa do Celeiro was discovered by its architect / artist owners in 1980. It was a ruin which had been the stable/barn of a 'quinta'(manor house and farm). The main attractions of the site were its views of the Serra and the sea and its seclusion and intimacy due to being a courtyard built into a hill. The house today has the same basic format but is now suitable for self-catering groups of up to 6 plus baby. There is an 8m dia. pool at the top of the property and a stone terrace with pergola and large garden in front of the Cottage. The Cottage has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large sit-in conservatory on the upper level with view to a private courtyard. The kitchen / living room are on the ground floor. The house is comfortably furnished and although not luxurious it is charming and comfortable. The tranquil setting, fabulous views of sea and hills and close proximity to Almoçageme the local village make this property a magnificent retreat. Winter months in Sintra are known for their coolness and dampness and our house although equipped with storage heaters in bedrooms and living room as well as an effective fan assisted woodburning fireplace (living room) may not be ideal for those who are used to underfloor heating or other amenities.

Art Courses: The owners live on site in separate quarters. Mary works as an artist and offers short courses from time to time. Guests may be interested in participating in the drawing & painting or etching courses and are encouraged to indicate their interest when booking.
Mary is a painter and a printer. Please ask owners for their website for more details / photos of house, courses, and area.
Piano: there is an old upright piano (Hoffmann) in the Cottage living room which although slightly out of tune and with worn keys is quite ok for sight reading and composing but not for recitals.

Owners' Background: Alan who is British worked as an architect in London at BDP (Building Design Partnership). He qualified at the AA (Architectural Association). When he moved to Portugal he opened an architectural office in Cascais in 1980. He retired in 1992. Many of his watercolour paintings are in the Cottage as well as his stainless steel sculptures on the grounds. Mary, American, also worked as an architect, having completed her diploma at the Central London Poly (now Westminster College). She also has degrees in Art History, International Education and painting and etching. She was head of the Art Department at St. Julian's School in Lisbon and runs art workshops in her studio from time to time. She exhibits her work regularly.

Golf, tennis, beaches: Several golf courses within 20 minute drive. Beloura is considered the best golf course for tourists as it has a more open and friendly atmosphere. Tennis and water sports within 10 minutes. 3 beaches within 5-10 minutes drive: Praias (beach) das Maças, Adraga and Grande all have restaurants and cafes on waterfront / Guincho Beach (15 minutes drive) has international surfing / wind surfing and excellent up market restaurants / can recommend a surf school

A Biker’s Paradise
One of the major advantages of the positioning of our house is that it is right in the Serra de Sintra with splendid views up and down the Lisbon coast. For a mountain biker this is very advantageous as we are at the entrance of one the mountain roads so you can ride directly into the Serra. From this road there are many dirt paths to take you deeper into the Serra. A dog and cat on the premises.

Check in: As we live in a separate wing of the property I like to greet guests but naturally because of the recent CoronaVirus I will take the necessary measures to keep the social distancing in place.

Property manager

Mary St.George
Premier Host

Languages

English, French, Portuguese

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Pool
Kitchen
Washer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
We do not allow events or large parties
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Pets

Pets allowed: dogs less than 23 kg per pet (limit one pet total)
Small to medium sized dog
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Only outside
in high season of July and August we request guests to book for a minimum of a week
We ask that guests can book up to 12 months in advance maximum
We request guests stay a minimum of 5 nights. During high season (June, July and August) we request guests stay a minimum of 7 nights.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Note from host: We do not allow events or large parties
This property uses eco-friendly cleaning products
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number 34367

We should mention

A car is required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Sintra

Located in Sintra, this cottage is in the mountains and by the sea. Pena Palace is a notable landmark, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Guincho Beach and Carcavelos Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Sintra Science Center and Museum of the Sea. Windsurfing and sailing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and mountain climbing nearby.
Map
Sintra

What's nearby

  • Cape Roca - 6 min drive - 5.1 km
  • Adraga Beach - 11 min drive - 3.5 km
  • Grande Beach - 12 min drive - 5.4 km
  • Pena Palace - 14 min drive - 10.6 km
  • Guincho Beach - 20 min drive - 11.3 km

Getting around

  • Banzão Tram Stop - 4 min drive
  • Algueirão-Mem Martins Station - 19 min drive
  • Cascais (CAT) - 33 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Moinho Dom Quixote - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪HopSin Brewpub - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Restaurante D'Adraga - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Café do Paulo - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Restaurante A Toca do Júlio - ‬2 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Does Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site have a pool?

Yes, this property has an outdoor pool.

Is Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 23 kg per pet.

What time is check-in at Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Architect / artist converted 17th C' farmhouse in World Heritage Site located?

This family-friendly Sintra cottage is located by the sea, within a 10-minute walk of Sintra Mountains and Casal Santa Maria. Ulgueira Church and Anta de Adrenunes are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 58 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 7 out of 58 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 2 out of 58 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 58 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 58 reviews

9.4/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Ralf B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastischer Aufenthalt / Workcation

Wir waren für vier Wochen im November für eine Mischung aus Arbeit und Urlaub in dem Anwesen. Die Gegend mit der Mischung aus Stränden und dem Nationalpark mit seinen "verwunschenen Wäldern" ist magisch. Mary war jederzeit ansprechbar und hat sich um alles direkt gekümmert. Jederzeit wieder!
Stayed 28 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Angela F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Mädelsurlaub

Wir hatten einen traumhaften Urlaub, das ist wunderschön vorallem der zauberhafte Blick ins Tal. Mary ist einen liebe Gastgeberin, die Kommunikation mit ihr hat super geklappt. Wir kommen gerne wieder
Stayed 11 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Irit W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxed

Although the weather was terrible we enjoyed the stay in this beautiful place.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great place for a relaxed stay

We had a lovely week here as a family with two boys (11 & 9). The pool is large and deep with great views both from there and from the outdoor table at the front of the house - a great spot for lazy days without needing to go out. There's great walking in the hills behind the house and the location is near plenty of interesting places. Mary is a very welcoming host and had loads of good suggestions for us. We'd definitely recommend here for others - families or couples.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Siebrine N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Heerlijk huis op prachtige locatie!

Wij verbleven met opa en oma en onze twee jongens in het knusse huis. Het was niet heel warm toen we aankwamen en dus had Mary, onze host, de haard voor ons aangemaakt. Een warm ontvangst! Ondanks het niet altijd warme weer genoten onze jongens elke dag van het zwembad en wij van het uitzicht, zittende aan de rand. Je kunt heerlijk wandendelen in de omgeving en bent in een paar auto minuten op de mooiste stranden van Portugal. Onze jongste zoon heeft een kunst klas bij Mary gevolgd en raakt er niet over uitgepraat. Bedankt voor de heerlijke week, Mary!
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Hillegien R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic location!

We had a wonderful week. The house has so much to offer. Wondeful beds. There are beautiful paintings everywhere, made by Maru and her husband. Mary is a lovely hostess. She can give you a lot of tips. The swimmingpool is wonderfully private. This location is highly recommended.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Karen Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Picturesque, unique spot in a fantastic location

Had an amazing time in this historic and artistic home. Beautiful ocean views, gardens, and pool. Great for relaxing afternoons and watching shooting stars at night. There are many beaches, villages, and monuments within a 15 km radius. We stayed for two weeks and still didn't see everything! Mary is a very welcoming host and keen to share her love of the arts. Highly recommend this property for families!
Stayed 15 nights in Sep 2023

8/10 Good

Michael W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great views in rustic setting

Mary war ein rundum aufmerksamer Gastgeber und wir haben uns sehr wohl gefühlt. Pool und Ausblick sind spektakulär, Einrichtung einfach, aber funktional. Ein toller Ausgangspunkt für Hiker und Biker. Die Restauranttips von Mary waren spot on. Danke!
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

laura b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful house in wonderful location

Amazing stay - well equipped, good wifi and beautiful paintings all around
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

ulla k.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great place between sintra and cascais

wonderful and quiet house with pool and garden, best equipment in the kitchen and comfortable beds, friendly and helpful hosts.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Cherie g.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Rustic cottage with ocean view near Sintra

Located up on a high hill with jaw dropping views of the ocean, this is a lovely rustic cottage that was a farmer’s home in times past. Mary and her husband restored the property 40 years ago and graciously rent the cottage which is next to their home. If you want a traditional home in the hills of Sintra, this is for you. If you need sleek and modern, keep looking. The cottage is about an hour drive from Lisbon airport, up a narrow winding (beautiful) road and less than 30 minutes from the town in Sintra. There are numerous beaches a short drive from the house. The cottage has two bedrooms upstairs (2 single beds each) with a shared bathroom and sunroom. The ground floor has a well stocked country kitchen and small sitting area with a piano, lots of books and games. There is a washing machine and dishwasher. Down about 2 stairs from the kitchen is a bedroom (Queen) with a bathroom. The surrounding woods are beautiful with a small hiking path to the summit. We loved the nearby town of Cascais—beaches food shopping wild coastline. Excellent communication with the owners.
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Donna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful home in Sintra!

Spacious home with a beautiful pool and garden . We loved our stay here!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Gwen R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property, lovely host

Spent a fabulous 2 weeks at Mary's property. The house is perfectly located to explore the area and had everything we needed. The photos don't do the place justice. Mary is the perfect host, she readily answered all of our questions (we chose to communicate by WhatsApp) but otherwise left us to it. The way the house is configured lends itself to families as well as couples travelling together.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Emiel P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful location

Nice swimming pool and a lot of privacy.
Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Igor W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable home at a beautiful location

Great stay at Casa do Celeiro!
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Birgit R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wunderschöne Unterkunft, prima gelegen und doch in der Natur

Wir haben unseren Aufenthalt als Familie mit zwei Teenagern sehr genossen. Das Cottage ist sehr geräumig mit vielen Rückzugsmöglichkeiten, einem wunderbaren Pool und Sitzplatz mit traumhafter Aussicht. Mary ist sehr gastfreundlich und hilft mit vielen guten Tipps, zB bei der Restaurantauswahl. Wirklich sehr zu empfehlen!
Stayed 11 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Yvo K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Our 3 weeks 2021 summer stay

The house was exactly as described on the site. Lots of space, with all modern amenities to make life easy. The views are simply breathtaking. From the kitchen window, upper bedrooms and even bathroom you can see the beautiful garden, villages in the distance, coastline, and Atlantic Ocean! The garden is beautiful and the Pool is private with lots of space to relax. Our host Mary was wonderful, respecting our privacy but always available when we had any questions. The great plus we want to mention is the location. All great things of the Lisbon region are so close! 37 minutes’ drive to Lisbon. Several beaches about 8 minutes’ drive away, fantastic lookout points 15 minutes out, Palaces and Sintra less than 20 minutes. At home, you can relax in a country atmosphere, on the other hand if you like to dine out, lots of restaurants no more than 10 minutes’ drive away. So sun, sea and culture and relax. Our three weeks have been wonderful. Hope to come back.
Stayed 19 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sylvie T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Un endroit calme et reposant

Super endroit pour se ressourcer et profiter de la vue et de la tranquillité des lieux.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Maria Isabel S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Estadia fantástica!

Já estamos com saudades de acordar com aquela paisagem e envolvência da natureza de Sintra. Quereremos voltar! Obrigada
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

AMG d.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Prachtig huis

Heerlijke dagen gehad in de accomodatie. Het huisje is erg huiselijk, gemoedelijk en knus, muren zijn vol met prachtige kunstwerken gemaakt door de eigenaresse. Ook de omgeving is erg leuk. Colares is een prachtig dorpje met een aantal leuke restaurantjes. Strandjes in de omgeving zijn heel erg mooi. Veel surfers.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

6/10 Okay

Carola K.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

traumhafte Lage, sehr nette Gastgeberin, kein Winterquartier

mein Lebensgefährte und ich waren in der 2. Januarwoche da. Es war ein Urlaub mit traumhaften Erlebnissen, aber er hatte auch Schattenseiten. Das Haus ist wirklich sehr, sehr alt, die Wände 1 m dick. Es liegt direkt am Naturpark und auf einem traumhaften Grundstück. Die Sicht auf den Atlantik ist gigantisch. Mary ist ein supernette Gastgeberin, die den Spagat zwischen aufmerksamer Betreuung und Zurückhaltung perfekt beherrscht. Der Parkplatz war nur wenige Meter von der Eingangstür entfernt. Leider waren wir mit dem Haus nicht glücklich, was hauptsächlich daran lag, dass wir zur falschen Jahreszeit da waren. Als wir ankamen war zwar die Heizung (Nachtspeicher) angestellt und im Kaminofen brannte ein Feuer - trotzdem war das Haus ausgekühlt, die Wände klamm, in einem Raum war kurz bevor wir kamen die Wand mit einer Lauge abgewaschen worden, es roch sehr danach. In den Tagen unseres Aufenthaltes wurde das Haus allmählich warm, wir fanden dann einige sehr große, dicke schwarze Spinnen in unserer auf dem Bett liegenden Kleidung im Schlafzimmer. Auf dem Fenstersims dann leider auch Ameisen, die auf unserer Kamera herumkrabbelten. Diese Ameisen fanden sich auch in der Küche. Der Effekt war ein permanentes Unbehagen während der Zeit, die wir im Haus verbracht haben, was wirklich schade war. Unser Urlaub war ansonsten nämlich wirklich schön, wir hatten Glück mit dem Wetter, meist so um die 15 - 18 Grad, wir waren viel unterwegs und es gibt sehr viel dort zu sehen. Wir werden wieder kommen. Wir würden auch wieder zu Mary kommen - wenn Sie uns nach dieser Bewertung noch nimmt :-( , aber nur im Sommer. PS: Liebe Mary, es tut mir leid, dass ich das so deutlich hier schreibe, denn Du bist wirklich nett und eine tolle Gastgeberin. Wir haben Deine Bilder sehr bewundert und waren beeindruckt von Deiner Kreativität. Wir grüßen Dich, C+R

10/10 Excellent

Michael H., Fürth

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Traumhafter Urlaub

Wir hatten zu fünft einen Urlaub für 14 Tage bei Mary gebucht. Das Haus ist perfekt ausgestattet, es gibt eine schöne Terrasse mit großem Tisch und Grill, perfekt um dort die Abende mit Blick zum Meer zu geniesen. Der Pool ist groß und sehr sauber, das Wasser klar und der Ausblick phänomenal. Zu Fuß ist auch die Bushaltestelle (Sintra / Cascais im 20-MinutenTakt) sehr gut erreichbar. Es blieben einfach keine Wünsche offen. Wir danken Mary sehr für die schöne Zeit und die guten Tipps!
Stayed 14 nights in Sep 2019

6/10 Okay

Lesley M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in

Our stay in the hikks

The surrounding area is beautiful. Unfortunately we were unlucky with the weather and I think it would be fair to say that cloudy and damp days are common especially in the hills around Sintra. We were also unlucky around maintenance issues at the house. The pool was out of action for three days whilst waiting for an expert.

10/10 Excellent

Ilona M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Großzügiges Landhaus in herrlicher Lage

Sehr großes Haus mit historischem Kern (dicke Mauern!) und charmanter Einrichtung. Mit 3 Schlafzimmern und 2 Bädern auch für größere Familien gut geeignet. Die Vermieterin wohnt nebenan, ist sehr zuvorkommend und entspannt, aber um das Wohlergehen ihrer Gäste im positiven Sinne besorgt. Vom Schlafzimmer wunderbarer Blick auf die Küste und das Meer - ebenso vom großen Pool, der von uns, aber vor allem unseren Kindern heißgeliebt war. Wir genossen auch die Weinlaube auf der Terrasse, wo immer eine angenehme Brise wehte. Die Einrichtung ist nett und funktional - wirklich hübsch ist aber der kleine Wohnbereich am Eingang, den wir an kühleren Abenden sehr gerne genossen haben. Die Umgebung bietet alles, was Portugal zu bieten hat: Meer, Felsenküste, Surfen, liebenswerte Ortschaften, tolle Restaurants (vor allem Fisch!), Berge, Natur - und Lissabon in halbstündiger Entfernung (mit dem Auto leicht erreichbar)! Wir danken Mary für die Gastfreundschaft und würden jederzeit sehr gerne wiederkommen! In Summe haben wir uns 2 Wochen sehr wohl gefühlt.

10/10 Excellent

Karoline W., Düsseldorf

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wunderschöne Ausgangslage für Entdeckungen ringsherum

Ein wunderschönes Haus mit tollem Garten und Pool, Meerblick und perfekt positioniert, da man von hier aus unheimlich viel sehen und entdecken kann. Ein Auto ist unabkömmlich, da es etwas abgelegen liegt, was wir sehr genossen haben. Wir werden wiederkommen.

About the host

Hosted by Mary St.George

Host profile image
I grew up in Wisconsin, studied history of art at Connecticut College and then lived and worked in NYC. I moved to the UK where I met my architect husband. I also studied architecture and we moved to Portugal in 1980 to set up an architectural practice. I also taught art at a local British secondary school and now work as an artist and teach in my studio.

Why they chose this property

We found a 17th ruin (barn and stable) attached to an old 'quinta' (up-market farm) and as architects took our time developing it for our family and now for guests.

What makes this property unique

World Heritage Site (Serra de Sintra), secluded setting with panoramic views of Atlantic and Serra. Close enough to amenities but away from noise and crowds. Converted by owners / architects. Full of paintings, etchings and sculpture. A place for artists to retreat to work or relax. Mary open to teach art students in her studio.

Old upright piano. There is a sturdy Hoffman piano which is fine for sight reading and composing but not for recitals. Slightly out of tune and with worn keys but still fun to play on.

BIRD WATCHERS PARADISE:
One of the advantages of our position in the Serra de Sintra is that we are within easy reach of spotting interesting local birds. Our house is on the edge of the Serra (Pé da Serra, Colares, Sintra) so that one can walk up into the low wooded mountains directly from the house. There is also a link (Portuguese) with more information: www.avesdeportugal.info/#790B11
Some of the local birds in the area include: Sparrow Hawk, Bonelli’s Eagle, Black Swift, Green Woodpecker, Black Cap Warbler, ‘Ferreinha alpina’ among others.

Note: We now have a video from a drone (2019)which shows the position of the house and general area relating to sea and serra. Get in touch if you wish me to send this to you. We are not allowed more than one video on the site. unfortunately.

Languages:

English, French, Portuguese

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests