Perfectly rustic and delightfully elegant, this fantastic villa in the vibrant landscape of the Minho province is the ideal home for a nature-loving, active group, able to accommodate up to 12 guests. As you approach Casa Benedita through the rolling hills of the famous wine region, along with the winding roads dissecting vineyards and olive groves, you will delight in the mounting face of a most traditional and charming building on the horizon. Beautiful stone windows, terracotta roofs and soft white walls create the most welcoming exterior of this grand manor house. Within, you are in for a real treat. You are immediately met with a charming, colourful hallway with an elegant stairway and complementary furniture all in a royal blue. An ornate and intricate dining room offers a formal setting for group meals, while the living rooms provide a perfectly casual seating area, in front of the Satellite TV, ideal for a relaxed evening in. A piano completes the larger living room, adding to the entertainment facilities on offer. The fully-equipped kitchen is spacious, with a large central island and direct access to the garden beyond, with room for everyone to contribute to the preparation of all kinds of feasts. There is also a utility room on this floor. To ensure your total comfort, there is free WiFi, central heating and cleaning are offered twice a week free of charge. The bedrooms are a sight to behold. With three doubles and three twins, there is room for all the group to indulge in pure luxury. Elegant four-poster beds, intricately designed wardrobes, drawers and bedside tables sit below beautiful ornate chandeliers, while colourful wooden pieces with brightly painted floral designs adorn the walls. Two doubles and two twin rooms are found on the ground floor, while the other two rooms are on the first floor, alongside the main living areas. All six bedrooms are bright, spacious and utterly full of character, and all enjoy fantastic ensuite facilities. The grounds are every bit as beautiful and exciting as the interior. With a private tennis court and huge, inviting swimming pool and beautifully landscaped terraced lawns and flowerbeds, theres indeed something for everyone to enjoy whatever the weather, and whatever your mood. Lie back in one of the pool-side sun-loungers, nestled under the great oaks and pine trees, and enjoy the perfect calm and quiet of the country! #### Features The Villa Casa Benedita is a romantic building from the beginning of the XX century, located above the city of Barcelos and the River Cavado Valley. There are 6 bedrooms and 6 bathrooms, and it can accommodate up to 12 people Ground Floor - Two double bedrooms with en-suite bathroom - Two twin bedrooms with en-suite bathroom - Living room - Access to the patio & pool area First Floor - Double bedroom with en-suite bathroom - Twin bedroom with en-suite bathroom - Dining & living area - Fully equipped kitchen - Terrace Exterior - Swimming pool (11x5m) - Large patio & garden area - Covered terrace - Tennis court - Private parking #### Location Enveloped in vineyards and rolling hills of green, Casa Benedita is located in the beautiful Barcelos area of the Minho province, famous for its delicious wines. At just 4km from Barcelos city, you are ideally located to enjoy the quaint communities, local culture and the slow pace of life of rural Portugal. The town of Braga, the capital of the district, is about 25 minutes away and hosts many relics of the regions diverse history. The thriving town of Porto is about a 45-minute drive away and is a UNESCO World Heritage city, built along the hills overlooking the Douro river estuary, with a busy historical and commercial centre. Porto is, of course, famous for its eponymous Port wine, a 40% sweet, fortified wine, and you can enjoy many a port tour, and we would highly recommend a visit to the various wine caves, both of which are thoroughly affordable and excellent value. Minho is a fantastic, mostly rural region on the northernmost Atlantic tip of Portugal, bordering the Spanish region of Galiza, with which it shares many attributes. Minho is perhaps most famous as the home of the Vinho Verde, a crisp, dry white wine (although as the name suggests, it is, in fact, green!) best enjoyed with a local fish dish. Very lovely, and very affordable. Minho is particularly special as it features the countrys only National Park, the Parque Nacional da Peneda-Geres, which is less than half an hour from Casa Benedita, with around 72,000 ha of land. It is a mountainous nature reserve that includes prehistoric remains, walking trails, rugged hills as well as deer, wolves and golden eagles! Portugal itself is a small, fascinating country at the most Western point of mainland Europe. The capital, Lisbon, is known for its lively nightlife, with endless bars and clubs full of fun-loving locals and tourists alike, but also has plenty of fascinating history (check out Belem, jam-packed with monuments!) and undulating terrain, famously termed the ‘city of the seven hills. From Lisbon, it is very quick to travel by the domestic high-speed train line to the city of Braga, which will connect you reasonably quickly to Casa Benedita. With a vast coastline with the mighty Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is a real paradise for the keen surfer, or indeed even those looking to try it for the first time. And for those less keen on surfing, the beaches of Portugal are still well worth a visit for their beautifully clear waters.