Villa Castelo

in Mourão, Alentejo, Portugal

I love the night sky — you can see shooting stars and satellites passing by, as well as all the colours of the Milky Way.

Monica, Owner
Villa Castelo, Mourão, Alentejo, Portugal

Villa Castelo

  • Location: Countryside
    Mourão for shops and restaurants: 5km (8 mins by car)
    Reguengos de Monsaraz for more shops and restaurants: 34km (20 mins by car)
    Praia Fluvial de Mourão (beach on the lake): 8km (14 mins by car)
  • Lisbon Airport (LIS): 195km (2hs 15 mins by car)
    Faro Airport (FAO): 240km (2hs 45 mins by car)
    Airport transfer available on request
    Car recommended
    Free parking

Location, the quietude of the surroundings, views, 240+ days of sun, 10 ha to explore.

The access road is not asphalt and is in poor condition in some areas.

Use left and right arrows to navigate between tabs.
1
0
0

You won't be charged yet. You can still review your booking as well as the booking and cancellation terms.

Contact the owner directly for the best rates
1
0
0
Remaining characters: 382

You’ll receive a reply within 24 hours and often much quicker.

No booking fees & best prices

Found your stay cheaper elsewhere? Contact us and we’ll always try to match the price. Guaranteed.

Book through us and get

Welcome basket with regional products tailored to the guest. One meal cooked at home by a private chef.

Do you need help?

Email us here for support.

An introduction to Villa Castelo

What is the story behind Villa Castelo, what was your inspiration to create it?

Originally, we wanted a holiday house for ourselves and it was only intended for personal use. But then we thought that maybe other people would want to stay in Alentejo and decided to open it up to guests. It’s a private area with privileged views toward a castle and we wanted to share that. 

Our idea was to create something minimalistic that didn’t have a big impact on the landscape. It’s subtle. We also wanted something that was the opposite of what you usually find in Alentejo, which is old houses that are cold and uncomfortable in the wintertime. Along the coast, you can find lots of modern houses but not near the Spanish border where we are. So we invested in all the best materials and insulation, as well as heated floors. 

I’m a physics engineer and my husband has an IT company, so we worked with an architect on the project. We wanted a lot of wood and a lot of glass to enjoy the landscape outside. I love big windows and the feeling of not being sure whether you’re inside or outside. Sometimes you see big houses with lots of rooms. But then everyone stays together in one room. I wanted a design where you could be inside or outside and feel as though you were all together. 

How would you describe the atmosphere and the interior design of the villa?

When I’m there, I feel like I’m in a bubble and time slows down. The days are really long and quiet — you have time to think. In the city, I am always rushing and thinking about all the stuff I have to do. When I go to Alentejo, my mind and body slow down. I have time to think and breathe and enjoy what is around me.

To you personally, what is so special about the house?

It’s the quiet and the silence — a serene feeling I get when I’m there. I like to sit on the terrace beside the pool and enjoy the infinite view. There are no buildings or trees blocking the view. Last New Year’s Eve, we could see fireworks from six different towns. 

I also love the night sky, which is amazing. You can see shooting stars every night and satellites passing by, as well as all the colours of the Milky Way. You don’t need any equipment, just the naked eye. 

Villa Castelo — Pool Villa Castelo — Living area Villa Castelo — Dining area Villa Castelo — Kitchen Villa Castelo — Living room Villa Castelo — Hallway Villa Castelo — Pool area Villa Castelo — Aerial view Villa Castelo — Evening Villa Castelo — Main bedroom Villa Castelo — Main bathroom Villa Castelo — Main bedroom Villa Castelo — Bedroom 2 Villa Castelo — Bedroom 2 Villa Castelo — Ensuite bathroom 2 Villa Castelo — Ensuite bathroom 2 Villa Castelo — Bedroom 3 Villa Castelo — Ensuite bathroom 3 Villa Castelo — Ensuite bathroom 3 Villa Castelo — Terrace Villa Castelo — Exterior Villa Castelo — Exterior Villa Castelo — Aerial views
Pool
Living area
Dining area
Kitchen
Living room
Hallway
Pool area
Aerial view
Evening
Main bedroom
Main bathroom
Main bedroom
Bedroom 2
Bedroom 2
Ensuite bathroom 2
Ensuite bathroom 2
Bedroom 3
Ensuite bathroom 3
Ensuite bathroom 3
Terrace
Exterior
Exterior
Aerial views

Villa Castelo rooms & rates

The villa is an L-shaped house and you enter at the corner of the L. To your left is the living room, the kitchen and the porch area while to the right is a corridor leading to three bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. Also on the right-hand side is the garage door and laundry room, plus a small toilet. 

Outside is a spacious terrace that’s connected to the living room by big windows that can be completely opened up. In front of the terrace is a grassy area with a saltwater swimming pool (6 x 13 metres), plus a toilet for the pool area. A large part of the pool (around 36 square metres) is chest height, so you can play without worrying about being too deep.

OVERVIEW

Bedrooms

  • 1x Queen size bed with en-suite bathroom with shower
  • 1x Queen size bed with en-suite bathroom with shower
  • 1x Double bed + 2 Single with en-suite bathroom with shower

Bedroom amenities

  • Shower
  • Closet
  • Hairdryer
  • Towels
  • Shampoo, conditioner, body wash and cream

Living Room

  • 75" Smart TV
  • Streaming services
  • PlayStation
  • Board games
  • Bluetooth speaker

Outdoor & Pool

  • Salted pool with an average depth of 1,20m and a maximum depth of 1,80m
  • Pool beds
  • Pool towels
  • Pool toys
  • Ceramic BBQ charcoal
  • 8-seat outdoor table
  • Outdoor lounge area

Kitchen & Dining room

  • 8-seat dining table
  • 3-seat children's table
  • 1 high chair
  • Double sink
  • Recycling bin
  • BORA cooking top
  • Wine cooler
  • Oven
  • Microwave
  • Toaster
  • Blender
  • Kettle
  • Kitchen robot
  • Juicer
  • Automatic coffee machine
  • Dishwasher (with tablets)
  • American fridge/freezer
  • Ice dispenser
  • Cooking utensils
  • Salt, olive oil, spices, napkins

Laundry room

  • Washing machine (with soap)
  • Drying machine
  • Hand steamer
  • Sink

Key features

  • Private property
  • Floor heating/cooling system
  • High-speed internet WiFi
  • Garage
  • EV charger
  • Solar panels
  • Landscaped garden
  • Panoramic views
  • Natural reserve
  • No neighbours
  • Villa Castelo for 8-10 people / 250 m²
    1200 / night
    • 3 Double bedrooms
    • 3 Shower rooms (ensuite)
    • 1 Living room
    • 1 Dining room
    • 1 Kitchen
    • 2 Extra beds (on req.)
    • 1 Baby cot (on req.)
    • Terrace
    • Air conditioning
Included in the rates
Rates include bed/bath/pool linen, a pre-stocked pantry with basics, one meal prepared by a chef (day and time to be arranged before arrival), mid-week cleaning (towel/bedsheet change on request) and final cleaning.
Children & Extra beds
We are happy to have children as guests and have a dedicated room for them as well as a dining table and chairs, custom-made, for them to feel special. Cutlery, cups, dishes, bib, high-chair, toys, and pool toys are available. Crib and other specific items might be available on request (e.g. bottle warmer, bottles, bath, etc.).
Minimum stay
5 nights
Check in time
after 16:00
Check out time
before 11:00
Closed December to January

Facilities & services

  • WiFi
  • Air conditioning
  • Terrace
  • Children welcome
  • Swimming pool
  • TV
  • Garden
  • Washing machine
  • Central heating
  • Movies/DVDs
  • BBQ area
  • Toys for kids
  • Iron & Board
  • Safe box
  • Bicycles
  • Hair dryer

In addition to towels for the bathroom and pool, we also provide all linen and toiletries. There is super fast Starlink internet, heating and cooling, as well as a charger for electric vehicles. We also provide laundry detergents for the washing machine and dryer, plus an iron and ironing board. 

In the kitchen are all the appliances you’d expect, including a coffee machine with a grinder. Aside from a welcome basket that’s tailored to the guests, we provide basic groceries (milk, eggs, rice, pasta, sauces, coffee, tea) and can do a bigger grocery shop on request. Additionally, we can organise for food to be delivered to the house from a local restaurant. 

One of the bedrooms is designed for kids with nothing they can break. We provide toys, puzzles, board games and card games, as well as a cot and high chair.

The property is cleaned mid-week and at the end of each stay but this can be adjusted (more or less) based on the needs of guests. We also provide recommendations for restaurants and things to do in the area. A private driver can be arranged on request. 

Things to do in Alentejo & Mourão

  • Wine tastings
  • Wildlife / Animals
  • Hiking
  • Cycling

It depends on your style and interests. For cultural attractions, I would recommend Monsaraz and Evora, which is a UNESCO World Heritage-listed city. To the south is Amareleja where you can enjoy really nice food. Alentejo is renowned for its wine, so you can visit the vineyards and do tastings, as well as sample some of the local olive oil. 

Other activities in the area include horseback riding, water skiing and boat rides, as well as hot air ballooning. Because of the lack of light pollution, Alentejo is also one of the best places to stargaze in Portugal. 

The location of Villa Castelo

The closest town to the villa is Mourão, which is six kilometres away. Here, you’ll find lots of restaurants, cafes and local stores with basic groceries. Reguengos de Monsaraz is bigger and around 20 kilometres away, with large supermarkets and a hypermarket. 

The closest hospital is 60 kilometres away in Evora, although there are emergency services much closer. We are 15 kilometres from Spain and 70 kilometres from Badajoz Airport. There is a bus that comes and goes from Lisbon each day but it’s best to have a car to get around.

Around six kilometres away is a river beach that has received a gold medal for the quality of its water. There’s a bar here and toilets, as well as access for people with disabilities. We also have bicycles that guests can use as it’s nice to cycle around. Nearby is one of the biggest artificial lakes in Europe and the village of Monsaraz. 

It’s important to mention that we are located in one of the hottest regions in Portugal and it is very wild. You can’t leave food or garbage outside as there are foxes, wild pigs and other animals that may come at night.

It’s isolated - there are not a lot of people and you don’t see a lot of cars. I also love that it’s so sunny, with 250 days of sunshine a year. The temperatures drop at night but it’s very nice during the day.

When is the best time to visit Alentejo?

I like it best from spring to autumn because you have a lot of warm days and not a lot of rain. As the house and the pool are heated, it’s still very pleasurable in winter. June, July and August can be extremely hot while September/October and April/May are milder.