The modest external appearance conceals an interior of great charm.

The main entrance to the quinta leads to a courtyard where one door leads to the owners' private house. Other doors and staircases lead to the guest suites and communal rooms.

There is a large lounge with a pool table at one end. In winter a log fire burns in the hearth. This is surrounded by comfortable chairs for guests wishing to watch television. A door leads to a vestibule and guest toilets.

All accommodation has provision for light meals to be prepared in a kitchenette. If all the party wishes to eat together there is a common dining room with an extending table and the resident staff will prepare meals.

There staff use a kitchen where cooking may be done using wood, gas or electricity. Guests may use this kitchen but it is suggested that the servants are asked to prepare and serve any communal meals (extra charge payable locally). The servants will also be using this kitchen to prepare meals for the owner and his wife if they are in residence.

If meals are prepared they will be the traditional dishes of the area such as poultry, veal, smoked meats, cheeses etc. and served with the estate wines. The wines from the Dao region are considered among the world's best - especially the red wines.

Very occasionally these communal rooms will be used on Saturdays as a venue for a luncheon in connection with the wine production on the estate. Guests will be made aware of any such functions in advance so that they can spend the day touring the area although in many cases they will be welcome to join the other guests.

Stairs lead up from the lounge to two apartments one with two bedrooms (T2) and the other with one bedroom.(T1)

The T2 suite has a double bedroom and a twin bedded room both with en suite bathrooms. The small living room has a wood burning fire. Cupboard doors hide a kitchenette containing two electric rings, a small refrigerator and a sink.

The T1 suite has a twin bedroom with en suite bathroom together with a living room and kitchenette.

External stairs from the covered courtyard lead up to another T2 suite containing a twin bedroom and a double bedroom, both with en suite bathrooms. The living room again has an enclosed fire and a kitchenette.

On the other side of the courtyard there are stairs leading up to a further T1 suite and a T2 suite. The T2 has a double room and a single room which share a common bathroom. It also has a living room with a kitchenette.

The T1 has a twin bedded room with en suite bathroom and again a living room with kitchenette. A locked door leads to the owners' private living area.

The communal pool has integral steps and is 16 metres by 8 metres. The depth is from 1 metre to 2.3 metres.

Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain range in Portugal with skiing in winter, is about 30 kilometers away and there is a golf course at Viseu which is about 25 kilometers.

The estate is at an altitude of about 450 metres giving clear upland air and without the oppressive heat of the lowland areas. The estate is covered in vines, apple orchards and pastures with a small river running though the property. Guests are welcome to ride the horses which graze on the pastures.

Click here for details of the cottage, Casa Nova.