Quinta Colares is an historic 16th century manor house, once monastery, on the slopes of the Sintra Sierra with far reaching views of the valley of Colares and the sea. It is set in the most beautiful grounds of 10 acres with a backdrop of its own forest. The immaculate and colorful terraced gardens contain a swimming pool, a wonderful 16th century chapel with frescoes, vine terraces and fruit trees including orange, lemon, plum, apple pear and fig.
Views, from the terraces surrounding the house and from the garden right down to the sea, are stunning.
The exterior of the house gives no indication as to what one finds in the interior. Stone floors, vaulted ceilings, superb woodwork are typical of the style one imagines of an old monastery - but the owners have refurbished it with such skill and care, it is now the most comfortable of homes. Neither will it surprise you to know the owners are involved in interior design, are antique collectors and well traveled.
The house permeates style. It is utterly immaculate, has some very beautiful antiques and fabrics, fascinating Portuguese monastic sculpting and an eclectic collection of memorabilia from the East. It also has the advantage of a very efficient and charming English speaking housekeeper
Lord Byron was enraptured by Sintra's natural beauty and described it as a 'Glorious Eden'. With its lush vegetation and spectacular mountain top views it is little wonder that for over 500 years the kings of Portugal chose it as their summer resort and nobility built a profusion of extravagant villas and surrealist palaces in the surrounding hills. The town itself is a maze of narrow streets hugging the contours of the hills, which rise steeply in every direction. It is a perfectly preserved 18th century time capsule dominated by a medieval palace with eccentric conical chimneys. Above the town is an even more incredible Palacio Nacional da Pena, an extraordinary architectural confection rivalling any fairy tale castle! There are numerous restaurants and cafes serving excellent local fare - and at incredibly reasonable prices. The drive to a variety of beaches, the nearest, Praia Grande and Praia das Macas less than 10 minute away, takes you through picturesque villages untouched by time. There are several of these good, white, sand beaches within easy reach and beside some are unassuming looking restaurants serving the most scrumptious fresh fish. There is riding and golf in the area and Lisbon, Portugal's very beautiful capital city, is only 40 minutes away.
ACCOMMODATION:
Ground Floor: Hall, heavily beamed and with gleaming Portuguese oak furniture. Main drawing room, once the monks' refectory, with vaulted ceiling and old bread oven now used as an open fireplace. Dining room, with vaulted brick ceiling. Large, immaculate and well-equipped cedar fitted country style kitchen tiled in traditional Portuguese blue and white azulejos and incorporating a cellar, formerly a monk's cell. Laundry room and door leading to housekeeper's quarters. Inner Hall. Cloakroom W.C.
First Floor: Master suite of. double bedded room, en suite Bathroom 1, with dressing room. Views over the gardens to the sea. Large hall, off which is: Summer sitting-room/library, open fire, doors to verandah and covered terrace with magnificent views of the estate, the valley of Colares and the sea beyond. Bedroom 2: With a beautiful Portuguese double bed and en suite Bathroom 2. At the other end of the landing are three further bedrooms: Bedroom 3: A twin bedded room with en suite Bathroom 3. Bedroom 4: A very pretty twin bedded
room with door to sun balcony. Bedroom 5: A double bedroom with ornately carved Portuguese bed-head. Bathroom 4: A shower room shared by bedrooms 4 and 5.
Heating by partial central heating; gas + electric heaters and logs for open fires - charged extra. Electricity included for summer lets. Bedlinen and bath towels included. TV + Sky News and Satellite. Video. Radio. Stereo. Dishwasher. Microwave. 2 Automatic washing machines. Tumble dryer. Cot. Barbecue. Telephone/Fax by arrangement. Domestic help Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. included, extra by arrangement. Babysitting by arrangement.
Dining room
Interior
Interior
Nearby Beach
Sleeps up to
10
Bedrooms
5
Baths
4
Pool
private
typical pricing:
start date
end date
per week
August, 2008
August, 2008
$12650
Pricing for other times of year on request. Prices are subject to change; call us to confirm.
Portugal (110) 
800-221-2260