Located 9km south of Mafra, this unique rural tourism option is the forward-thinking vision of lisboêta Diogo Batalha, who managed to buy and restore 18 ruined structures of a 300-year-old village, 14 of which so far have been turned into fabulous, historically accurate stone cottages, each with a kitchen, living room and sleeping area.
The details are extraordinary: all of the houses contain original salgadeiras (meat-salting boxes) while others – formerly wineries, barns or bakeries – retain original elements such as stables-turned-living-rooms and a massive wine press as a design centrepiece. There's ginjinha (cherry liqueur) in the room, piping hot Mafra bread at your doorstep in the morning and a tiny, independently operated petiscos restaurant on premises. You'll share the tiny village with cats, a pig, rabbits, peacocks, goats and a donkey. It sits in an extraordinary countryside location and is best reached by private car. There is a two-day minimum (or 50% surcharge for one night when reserved less than five days in advance), but you'll want to stay forever.
