Townhouse in Portugal

This is a recently renovated townhouse located in the historic town of Cabanas de Viriato, Central Portugal. If you are looking for an authentic Portuguese town where you can enjoy the countryside and have local amenities nearby then this is for you. **The swimming pool is exclusively for your use between 11am-6pm** You will be staying in a beautiful granite house that is well over 200 years old, which has recently been renovated to accommodate guests. The house is made up of three floors, and includes: two bedrooms, a living room that adjoins onto the main bedroom, a kitchen, and bathroom with shower. It is a perfect space for a family with children or two couples. There are two entrances to the property, one into the kitchen on the ground floor and one with steps leading into the hallway on the first floor. Also available to you is our gardens and private swimming pool (Size: 9.5m x 5m). The pool is exclusively available to you and your party from 11am-6pm. Outside these hours we need to clean and maintain it. In the garden you will find a private outside eating area with a barbecue (BBQ) for your use. Near the poolside there are sun loungers, a table and chairs, shaded by a large umbrella. These are for your use. The house has some of the best views of the Serra da Estrela mountains in the whole town. The garden is a paradise for birds. During the day you will hear their songs. It is visited by green and gold finches, blue tits, black redstarts, Sardinian warblers, house martins, swallows, and so many more birds. There is always a red kite flying above. If you are a bird watcher then you could spend all day just sat in the garden! You can also enjoy our fruit trees, including orange, tangerine, lemon, fig, hazelnut, olive and walnut trees at certain times of the year. You can access the whole house, the outside gardens and also swimming pool (at specified times). We look forward to meeting you on arrival, showing you around the property and answering any of your questions. We will be around during your stay if you need any recommendations or have questions. If we are out, you can call us (there will be a welcome folder with our number inside). Your hosts are Sue and Rob, a retired English couple whom are living their dream in Portugal. We speak some Portuguese and are learning more every day. We live next door but do not worry, we respect your privacy. There are two doors that adjoin the two properties but these are kept locked at all times. We will be available if you need anything or have any questions. The house is located in the quiet and authentic Portuguese town of Cabanas de Viriato in Central Portugal. It has breathtaking views of the Serra da Estrela, which is home to the highest peak in Portugal. It is also the birth place and hometown of the Viriato, a Lusitanian chief. Casa do Passal, the mansion of WWII holocaust hero Aristides de Sousa Mendes, is located a 5 minute walk from the house. You are not allowed to go inside the mansion but this is definitely worth visiting if you have an interest in history. The town has two restaurants, three cafes, two local shops, bank with a cash machine, pharmacy and a post office. 4km down the road is Carregal do Sal where you will find two large supermarket's, several restaurants, and shops. There is a large market there every 3rd Friday of the month. August is festival time in Portugal, where people dance in the streets and eat on long tables outside at the weekend. Each local village have their own festival week, but ours tends to be the first or second weekend in August. Everybody is in very high spirits, people tie bunting around the lamp posts, and processions go around the streets. The Portuguese enjoy fireworks at this time of the year. We will send you an electronic copy of our Welcome Pack before your arrival and there will be a hard copy which you will also find upon arrival. Inside it details the many great things to visit, see, and do. Here are a few examples: - 7km from the Dão River (fantastic picnic spots, walking, and swimming in the river) - 9km from the Mondego River (for kayaking/canoeing, walking, swimming or just enjoying the river) - 27km to Viseu (large city where there are many restaurants and a huge shopping centre called Palácio do Gelo) - 45km from Serra da Estrela (beautiful mountain range, for hiking, rock climbing, skiing in the winter and home to the highest peak in Portugal) - 67km to Coimbra (large city and home to one of the oldest Universities) - 103km to Figueira da Foz (very popular sea-side destination) - 110km to Aveiro (known as the 'Venice of Portugal') - 145km to Porto - 266km to Lisbon If you enjoy cycling then there is the 49km Ecopista route that follows a disused railway between Viseu and Santa Comba Dão. It runs alongside the banks of the River Dão. We can recommend a bicycle rental company if you are interested. Please can you bring your own pool towels. We are very pleased to say that our hot water is supplied by solar power during the hot summer months. Please don't be afraid to use it, otherwise it will get too hot! It is for the sole use of the guests in the house. We have an indoor fireplace but this is currently not in use, it is only a feature. There is air-conditioning in the Bedroom 2 (single beds) only. It is expensive to run so we recommend you leave it on for an hour before bedtime in hot weather and the room will be nice and cool for you. Fiber Wi-Fi is throughout the house and parts of the garden. The gardens and pool are shared with the hosts only. To get there you go through a small gate. You are very welcome to use the pool exclusively between 11am-6pm. Outside these times the pool is cleaned and the garden maintained. We always try to accommodate guests use of the pool. After a long drive the first thing guests want to do is swim. We also have a two friendly dogs Jasper and Leah who might say hi when you are in the garden. We also have a local cat that we call Barmy.