PORTUGAL - PORTO (OPORTO) and DOURO VALLEY
Rent villas direct from owners in Quintas, Houses, Manors or Cottages with Portugal Villas
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Porto, also known as Oporto, is Portugal's second largest city and has a rich and fascinating heritage. The history of this now great city had humble beginnings, the Romans named it "Portocale" and official records of its existence date from 5th Century. Much of its history is based on shipping and trade and today it is a bustling and very interesting city with many beautiful buildings and monuments. In 1996 it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO.
Porto, with its long sandy beaches to the north and south, sits at the mouth of the River Douro on the north bank and is connected to the south bank by several bridges, one of which is the Dona Maria Pia Railway Bridge, built by Gustave Eiffel in 1877. This beautiful city gave its name to Port Wine and the Port Wine Lodges in Gaia, on the south bank, are the most visited tourist attraction in Portugal.
Founded in 1756, the Douro is the world's first demarcated wine region were the grapes are grown in the warm higher reaches of the river around Regua and Pinhao.
The river takes its name from the word 'ouro' (gold) and is one of Europe's most charming and untouched rivers. It flows through a stunningly beautiful region with tier upon tier of vine-ladden terraces, lush vineyards, tiny communities and delightful unspoiled villages and towns. In particular, the beautiful town of Amarante.
The World Heritage Sites of Porto, Douro Valley and Foz Coa are located in this region.
Portugalvilla.com offers a variety of self catering accommodation. These delightful Douro villas are ideal for families or groups, as they are fully equipped with kitchens, en suite bathrooms etc. most also have a private swimming pool.
All the self catering accommodation featured on the Portugal Villa site has been inspected for quality.
The most convenient international airport is at Porto (Oporto)
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 | Casa Valdemar
| | Location: Felgueiras | Bedrooms: 8 | Bathrooms: 8 | Sleeps: 16+1 | map
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Casa Valdemar has been recently restored to meet the modern day living standards. The house is on a slope with magnificent views of the Longra Valley.
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 | Os Moinhos
| | Location: Apulia | Bedrooms: 6 | Bathrooms: 6 | Sleeps: 12+4 | map
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Two adjacent
windmills each with own kitchen and small pool with a current. A car is essential due to
rural position near Apulia. May be rented individually. Delightful Oporto villas.
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 | Casa de Barqueiros
| | Location: Apulia | Bedrooms: 6 | Bathrooms: 5 | Sleeps: 12+4 | map
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A restored farm house incorporating the corn storage building.
In a small farming hamlet which makes a car essential
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 | Quinta da Varzea de Cima
| | Location: Marco de Canaveses | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 5 | Sleeps: 10 | map
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House on the hillside near Marco de Canaveses and the Douro river.
Some of the accommodation is in a separate building
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 | O Refugio
| | Location: Vila de Conde | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 10 | map
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House in a village near to Porto.
The sandy Atlantic beaches are a short car drive from the house
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 | Villa Mafalda
| | Location: Mindelo | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 4 | Sleeps: 6+3 | map
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Modern house in Mindelo, near the beach.
The House is close to Porto (Oporto) and within a short drive from Viana do Castelo, Braga and Guimaraes.
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 | Quinta da Avozinha
| | Location: Braganca | Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 | Sleeps: 8 | map
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Beautiful house near to Braganca, the caste and the Pousada.
Close to the natural park.
Near the fast road from Porto into Spain
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 | Casa da Povoa
| | Location: Cinfaes | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 4 | Sleeps: 10 | map
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Traditional manor house near Cinfaes looking onto one of the dams on the Douro river.
Terraced vineyards down to the river make it unsuitable for young children
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 | Casa do Souto
| | Location: Resende | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 5 | Sleeps: 10 | map
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Unusually designed house near Resende looking down the valley side to the river Douro.
Swimming pool and a tennis court
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 | Casa do Sino
| | Location: Apulia | Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 10 | map
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Near the long sandy Atlantic beach of Apulia. Unusual design with most walls curved. Near many restaurants including the popular fishermen's 'shacks'
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 | Casa de Alfena
| | Location: Povoa de Lanhoso | Bedrooms: 5 | Bathrooms: 5 | Sleeps: 10 | map
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A substantial country house near Povoa de Lanhoso with a children's' pool as well as the main pool. Two of the bedrooms are in an annex.
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 | Casa Amarela
| | Location: Pinhao | Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 | Sleeps: 9 | map
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A house on the banks of the Douro river near Pinhao. It is part of one of the busy port producing quintas for which this area is famous.
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 | Casa do Pintor
| | Location: Esposende | Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 8 | map
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A house near to the Barca do Porto Golf course and the river near Esposende. Some beds are more suitable for children. Good road connections to all the Minho towns.
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 | Casa Bromela
| | Location: Mondim de Basto | Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 5 | Sleeps: 8 | map
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A superb house in small rural community. Attractively designed around an internal courtyard. In the valley of the Tamega river near Mondim de Basto.
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 | Casal do Outeiro
| | Location: Lousada | Bedrooms: 4 | Bathrooms: 4 | Sleeps: 8 | map
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The owner lives discretely on the ground floor with the self contained first floor available for rent. Good views over the vineyards. Near Lousada
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 | Moinho Velho and
Moinho Novo
| | Location: Apulia | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 6+2 | map
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One of two windmills converted for holiday rent near Apulia. The ground floor includes the store house making it more spacious than expected. Small swimming pool with a current
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 | Quinta do Ladario
| | Location: Marco de Canaveses | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 6 | map
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Villa from a good conversion of a farmhouse in a quiet location. Good views over the vineyards from the house with the swimming pool in front.
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 | Azenha da Lagoa Negra
| | Location: Barqueiros | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 7 | map
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Conversion of an old water mill with a swimming pool in an enclosed patio at the rear. Across a little used track is a lawn running down to the mill pool and stone tables. Near Apulia.
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 | Casa Montariol at Solar das Boucas
| | Location: Amares | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 6 | map
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Estate house on large wine producing estate near Amares and Braga. Near the 'adega' which is busy at the time of the grape harvest. Use of the pool of nearby manor house. The river bank is at edge of vineyards
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 | Casa da Eira at Solar das Boucas
| | Location: Amares | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 6 | map
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Casa da Eira is in the beautiful estate of vineyards at Solar das Boucas which is bordered by the Cavado River.
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 | Casa Viombra
| | Location: Baiao | Bedrooms: 3 | Bathrooms: 3 | Sleeps: 6 | map
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Restored house in a rural setting near Baiao. A car is essential since the nearest town is about 8 kilometres. Ideal for those wanting peace and quiet
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