Private Modern Home, Fully Equipped 7kms to Centre

Situated by beautiful semi-rural land just 7kms to Braga Centre. Enjoy the village feel while being close enough to fully enjoy historic Braga. Bus stop to Braga Centre only a 3 min walk from our door! Our home has both heating & cooling, underground parking, washer & dryer, fireplace, fully equipped kitchen with modern appliances & all necessary kitchenware. BBQ (Churrasqueira) perfect for families & friends. WiFi/Hair Dryer/Straightener/Clothes Iron/Baby Crib available for your convenience. Welcome to our warm and comfortable Home. Fully furnished 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom home tucked away in the small parish of S. Juliao Dos Passos; only a short 7kms from downtown Braga. The home has a wonderful view of the surrounding hills, dotted with homes in between greenery. Enjoy beautiful sunsets and the sound of crowing roosters in the morning. The home is internet-enabled with WiFi access throughout. On the main floor, you will find an open floor plan with a large living area. A full custom chef’s kitchen and large dining table which seats 6 people comfortably. The kitchen has professional-grade stainless appliances, including a professional induction electric range with 5 burners, dishwasher (Tablets provided) granite countertops and all the comforts of home, ie. Nespresso capsule coffee maker, microwave, electric Kettle/teapot and toaster. The kitchen is equipped with cookware, bakeware, dishes and utensils. For the little ones, we have a small collection of toys and children's dishware. We have tried to stock our kitchen with all the necessities with basics such as salt and pepper and other commonly used spices. If your cooking style requires something special please bring it! Full-sized front load washer and dryer (Washing tablets and iron with board provided). Conveniently located by the kitchen. There is a full bathroom with a tub/shower/bidet on the bedroom level and a half-bath on the first floor (Hairdryer and straightener provided). We have three bedrooms to offer. All bedrooms feature queen-sized beds, personal air conditioning units with remote control, blackout electric conveyor blinds and TVs with local cable. Our master bedroom is very spacious and has a private 4 piece ensuite bathroom and exclusive use of walkout balcony. Bedrooms 2 and 3 have ample storage with built-in closets. Bedroom 2 also has a private walkout balcony. The living room area on the main level has a large, sectional sofa, coffee table, flat-screen Smart TV with subscribed apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Plex and MEO service subscription with hundreds of channels in many languages. A wood burning fireplace that heats most of the house in the winter (Wood provided upon request) and A/C units to cool in the summer. The dining room easily seats 6, very bright with fully retractable floor to ceiling electric conveyor blinds with walkout access to the front yard. Our backyard is enclosed and accessible from the kitchen. It has a traditional Portuguese BBQ/Churrasqueira (Grilling utensils included) and patio set. Our underground parking garage is accessible from within the home with private parking for 1 vehicle. 6 public parking spots are also available on the street directly in front and to the side of the home. Plenty of towels and paper products are on hand. Beds are made and extra pillows and blankets are tucked away in bedroom closets. Shampoo and other toiletries are also provided for your convenience. Our home is colourful and inviting with plenty of space for the whole crew and yet still cozy enough if it's just you. A Truly Comfortable Home Away From Home. We would be happy to grant early check-in whenever possible. Alternatively, early luggage drop off can always be facilitated as early as 11:00 am check-in day. Guests will have full exclusive use of the entire home. Guest interaction can be tailored to your needs. My goal is to make sure your stay is unforgettable so you can always contact me via the website as I do not live in the country year-round, my local groundskeeper can assist you if you have any problems that need tending to. Upon your arrival, I can arrange to have someone greet you and show you the property or simply lock the key in a lockbox for your convenience. The choice, of course, is yours. Even though I am not on-site, I can always be reached. Feel free to contact me at any time during your stay should the unlikely event that a problem arises. I will immediately contact the proper authority to have the problem remedied. We are located in the little parish of Sao Juliao Dos Passos with less than 1000 inhabitants. Braga Centre is only 7kms away, just a 15-minute drive. A bus stop directly to Braga Centre is only 170 meters or a 3-minute walk away. As with every parish in the Minho, there are large community festivals held every year. Ours at S. Juliao occurs two weeks after easter. Braga is over 2000 years old and one of Portugal's oldest cities. It is the third-largest city in Portugal after Lisbon and Porto. First founded by the Iron Age Bracari people in 300BC (hence the name) before falling into Roman hands in 16BC and named “Bracara Augusta” in honour of the emperor Cesar Augusto. Even though Braga is the third-largest city of Portugal, it does not have a hectic pace or crowded atmosphere and is a joy to explore. As an important city, Braga has the services, choices and nightlife of a major city. The city centre is a pleasing place of wide boulevards and traffic-free streets and squares and it’s easy to spend a day or so idling around and drinking coffee in its beautiful cafés. This captivating city is filled with ornate churches (35 precisely; confirmed every hour when a symphony of different bells pleasantly ring-out.), grand architecture, and pretty gardens, along with an abundance of Portuguese charm. The city has two main gardens. The Jardim da Avenida Central and the Jardim de Santa Bárbara, while each of the main plazas (Largo de Santa Cruz, Largo São João do Souto and the Praça Conde de Agrolongo) have its own unique style and character. Braga also has a labyrinth of narrow streets, each one concealing historic sights, excellent restaurants, unique monuments or traditional family-run businesses. This is a great destination to explore on foot and simply get lost in. The Bom Jesus do Monte will be a highlight of any visit to Braga, and should definitely be visited as part of a day trip. The church stands at the top of a hill and the much-photographed baroque stairways is said to signify the ascent to heaven. Peppered with grottoes, small chapels, gardens, sculptures and ornate fountains. From the summit of the Bom Jesus hill, there are great views over Braga, and the surrounding park offers relaxed forested walks. For those not up for the steep hike up to the church, there is the world’s oldest water-powered funicular to ferry you up to the mount! During Semana Santa (Holy Week), Braga is the scene of major celebrations which reach a climax in the three days before Easter Sunday, when local priests bless each house with a crucifix and holy water, while torchlit processions of hooded penitents known as farricocos parade by, spinning large rattles. Festas de São João (June 23–24), which is preceded by a festival of gigantones (giant carnival figures; from June 18–20). In the last weekend of May is an event that recreates the Roman era, with a period market, a military camp, parades and traditional cuisine. During the 6-day festival, the city centres' streets and squares are filled with stalls selling all manner of produce, crafts, beverages and food. Each main square has events with concerts, theatrical productions and games. Costumed professionals roam the streets to add to the festive atmosphere all culminating in a massive parade. When visiting you have to try "Bacalhau à Braga" Portugal is known for its codfish and Braga is one of the cities that does it best. This dish includes all of Portugals favourite things: codfish, potato chips/fries, olive oil, and onions. What could be better? Suggestions if you arrive early: Many guests will arrive before the designated check-in time. The good news is that there is plenty to do. We often suggest that guests visit the grocery store and do a small shop. That will give you more time to relax once you've checked in. There are also a few good restaurants for lunch so why not relax and enjoy some of the local food! There is a good sized grocery store 3kms away called "Novo Super - Sequeira" Gastronomical recommendations: For breakfast closer to our home we would absolutely recommend “Montalegrense 3”. It is located only 3kms away and features a great variety of sweets, bread and small bites. There are several breakfast options available in Bragas city centre as well such as: Frigideiras Do Cantinho - This is Braga's oldest restaurant/cafe founded in 1796. Frigidieras are a meat-filled pie. A regional delicacy still made the traditional way. You can also find numerous other traditional sweets such as sameirinhos, tibias and convent sweets. In 1996 during a remodelling effort, an ancient Roman Domus (House) was found beneath the foundations. A glass floor was installed to showcase this era of history for all to see. Colinatrum Café - A beautifully modern cafe, perched high up on a hill. For those looking for a continental style breakfast, this is the place to go. Cafe A Brasileira - A cultural landmark in Braga. A Brasileira first opened its doors in 1907. Made popular by its owner who offered a free coffee to whoever bought a kilo's worth. A long-time meeting spot for locals young and old. Very popular and beautifully decorated. They are endless options for dining in the area but if you are looking for something close “Abc Dos Grelhados” can not be beaten. Located only 230 meters or a 3 minute walk from our property. Famous Portuguese BBQ chicken and great value. Another restaurant very close to home is “Soares dos Leitoes” located only 850 meters away. They specialize in Leitao (suckling pig) made the traditional way in wood-fired ovens. For higher class dining we could not recommend enough “Centurium.” This restaurant is located in the heart of Braga right in the main Praça de Republica. The building has had a long history and is the site of an ancient Roman Well. For the quality of food and price, this restaurant cannot be beaten. Our other recommendations inlcude: Restaurants: Colinatrum Café Restaurante Casa De Pasto Das Carvalheiras BRAC Tábuas, Copos & outras cenas Retrokitchen Dona Julia Café Vianna Restaurante Silvas Ferreira Capa Adega Regional de Tenões Forever Braga Ana Tão Gourmet & Salão de Chá Café Imperial 1 Velhos Tempos Taberna Restaurante Pecado da Sé Restaurante Cozinha da Sé, Lda The Cheesecake Story Restaurante Copo e Meio Taberna Do Félix Sé La Vie Estúdio 22 Mercado da Saudade Dona Petisca Taberna Dazeiras Domus Vinum - Wine Bar & Tapas Casinha - Boutique Café Spirito Cupcakes & Coffee Nightlife: Gin Lovers - Champagne & Gin Club SETRA Mal Amado Manuel dos Vinhos Subura Bar Mavy Sightseeing: Sameiro Bom Jesus do Monte Monastery of São Martinho de Tibães Mamoa de Lamas Fountain of the Idol Theatre Circo Shopping: Garrafeira Grande Escolha Casa das Bananas Arcádia Casa do Chocolate (Braga) lol We are conveniently located near several transportation options. By car: The A11 Highway (Toll Route) is 700 meters and IP1 Highway (Toll route) 1.3 kms from our home. Take the express route from Porto Airport and make it to our home in about 30-35 minutes. The N103 national road is located close by, only 130 meters from our home. Save on toll fees and take the scenic route with our national roads. Make the trip to our home from Porto Airport in about 55-60 minutes. By bus: Senhor Passos I (P Martim) bus stop is only 170 meters from our home. By train: Our closest train line in Linha de Braga. The closest train station is Tadim located 4.3 kms The public transit route from Porto Airport is recommended only for the seasoned traveller. Through a combination of buses and trains, you can make it to our home in about 2 hours and 15-30 minutes. This option will take you to downtown Braga first. Enjoy the downtown before making the last 35-40 minute bus ride to our home. The Groundskeeper: When you stay at our home you get a personal groundskeeper who takes care of anything you may need! You will not see the groundskeeper unless you contact us. He’s there to help you and respects your privacy. Our groundskeeper lives about a 15-minute drive away. Just contact us 24/7 to help you with anything. Can’t figure something out? Need firewood? Let us know and he can be at your service. Cleaning: You will find the house clean on arrival but please let us know if you are not satisfied. After you depart our cleaners will clean for the next guest. If you need a cleaning service more often, please let us know and we will arrange this. An extra payment will apply. On departure, it would be helpful if you could leave the house (particularly kitchen contents and BBQ/grill) clean and tidy when you leave. No need for you to perform a full clean!