BLOCAL blog
  • Home
  • Travel and Street Art blog
    • Be_Local in Amsterdam
    • Be_Local in Bristol
    • Be_Local in Rome
    • Italy
    • the Balkans
      • Albania Travel Itinerary
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria Travel street art
      • Croatia Travel and Street Art
      • Greece Travel and Street Art
      • Macedonia Travel Itinerary
      • Serbia Travel and Street Art
      • Slovenia Travel and Street Art
    • World
      • Belgium Travel and Street Art
      • Czech Republic Travel and Street Art
      • France Travel and Street Art
      • Germany Travel and Street Art
      • Israel
      • Palestine Travel and Street Art
      • Malta Travel and Street Art
      • Netherlands Travel and Street Art
      • New York Travel and Street Art
      • Norway Travel and Street Art
      • Portugal Street Art and Travel
      • Spain Travel and Street Art
      • Tunisia Travel and Street Art
      • UK Street Art and Travel
  • Street Art
    • Street Art articles
    • Street Art Travel Guides
  • Maps
  • Tours
  • Newsletter
  • Concierge
  • About
    • About Me
    • Kind of Personal posts
    • Privacy and Cookie Policy
Home Street Art Cities Travel GuidesPortugal Street Art and Travel Herdade da Matinha, Alentejo
Portugal Street Art and Travel

Herdade da Matinha, Alentejo

3.7K

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo PortugalAfter five hectic days in Lisbon, we left the city and took a train to Funcheira, a station lost in ‘that nothing that is Alentejo’, quoting the Portuguese writer Miguel Sousa Tavares.

Poor, dry and characterized by an authentic rural life, Alentejo is minimalistic even in its colours: the blue of the sky, the green of the bushes and the ocher of the ground. During the journey, all we could see from the train window was a huge, sun-scorched field.

That was Alentejo, Portugal’s big nothing.

Alentejo Portugal Alentejo Portugal

In this wild region, the pace of life is slow, following the rhythms of planting, weeding and harvesting.

Alentejo PortugalThis is the same relaxed atmosphere we found at Herdade da Matinha, a rustic country house on Portugal’s unspoiled south west coast.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal (22)

I was kindly invited by Monica and Alfredo, the owners of this beautiful family estate, to discover their homey country house full of personality.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal (15)

The place is surrounded by unspoiled nature, just a few kilometres from the ocean. It is not very big, but the spaces are well arranged and very secluded and so, even if Monica told us that around 50 guests are staying at the house right now, we always felt almost alone, with just the sound of the wind breaking the silence of nature.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal (16)

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Here we wandered around the property eating fruits straight from the trees, taking pictures and letting the fresh wind caressing our faces.

The place is very stylish and well thought out.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

There is a swimming pool where I spent a whole afternoon reading and sunbathing, several horses to go exploring the surrounding area as far as the ocean, yoga and surf classes, body massages and a guide who will lead you across the beach caves.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo PortugalHerdade da Matinha Alentejo PortugalWe ate at the local restaurant, which is made up of a big open kitchen and a beautiful patio from where we could even see the stars.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Here we had a very substantial dinner, trying a cuisine that is known as one of the best in Portugal, as is the wine from Alentejo.

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal Herdade da Matinha Alentejo PortugalOn the next day, we hiked on the Rota Vicentina, a long distance footpath that leads as far as the Algarve region, although we just did a few kilometres ;-)

Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal

Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal

We took the dirt track that runs right past the country house and walked through a dry area with eucalyptus, followed by the natural forest of the area, dominated by cork oaks.

Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal

Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal

We climbed until we reached a peak where we enjoyed a beautiful view as far as the ocean, and we met a couple of charmingly abandoned farms nestled in the hills, painted in the traditional way of the area: bright white with a yellow or blue frame around the windows and the door.

Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal

Rota Vicentina Alentejo Portugal

Rota Vicentina Alentejo PortugalHerdade da Matinha has been the perfect place to relax and to recharge batteries before the next part of this trip around southern Portugal: Lagos, here we come! :-)

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

Herdade da Matinha Alentejo Portugal

PEEK THROUGH: You can find this resort in my travel video “Almost 2 weeks in Portugal… in almost 2 minutes”

 

////////// MORE ABOUT //////////

portugal travel blog

AlentejoHotel
Giulia BLocal street art travel
Giulia Blocal

I'm a writer who is specialised in street art and graffiti. Since 2011 I have run this independent street art blog, which has been the media partner of important street art festivals around Europe. I create content for creative enterprises and museums, and my writing was published in street art catalogues and art publications.

previous post
#gowest: my travel plan for 10 days in Portugal
next post
Holiday Like a Local in Rome: my first vlog series!

You may also like

Almost 2 weeks in Portugal… in almost 2...

9 October 2015

#gowest: my travel plan for 10 days in...

23 July 2015

About Me

About Me

Hello, my name is Giulia. I'm a writer who is specialised in street art and graffiti. Since 2011 I have run this independent street art blog, which has been the media partner of important street art festivals around Europe. I create content for creative enterprises and museums, and my writing was published in street art catalogues and art publications.

Beyond the Walls: A Street Art Newsletter

Would you like to receive my stories, travel guides, and interviews straight to you inbox? Every 1st of the month, I will send you my latest articles along with more surprises!
It’s a more intimate and more direct way to connect with you than through social networks :) 

Join up!

Explore Rome with me!

Personalised walking tours to discover Rome with a local: me.
Street Art and more alternative tours on which I'll bring you to my favorite spots in my hometown.

Your BLocal Friend

My travel and street art maps will come in useful.

They are the same Google maps I created for myself and then tested on the field -no random places taken from the web, all spots approved by yours truly.

Get my maps!

Custom Travel Itinerary Service

Do you want a personalised itinerary based on your interests and passions? Tell me what you like.

Personalised Travel Tips
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • Bloglovin
  • Spotify
  • About
  • Contact
  • Newsletter

Privacy and Cookie Policy © Copyright BLocal — All Right Reserved. Managed by TomStardust Web Design


Back To Top
BLOCAL blog
  • Home
  • Travel and Street Art blog
    • Be_Local in Amsterdam
    • Be_Local in Bristol
    • Be_Local in Rome
    • Italy
    • the Balkans
      • Albania Travel Itinerary
      • Bosnia and Herzegovina
      • Bulgaria Travel street art
      • Croatia Travel and Street Art
      • Greece Travel and Street Art
      • Macedonia Travel Itinerary
      • Serbia Travel and Street Art
      • Slovenia Travel and Street Art
    • World
      • Belgium Travel and Street Art
      • Czech Republic Travel and Street Art
      • France Travel and Street Art
      • Germany Travel and Street Art
      • Israel
      • Palestine Travel and Street Art
      • Malta Travel and Street Art
      • Netherlands Travel and Street Art
      • New York Travel and Street Art
      • Norway Travel and Street Art
      • Portugal Street Art and Travel
      • Spain Travel and Street Art
      • Tunisia Travel and Street Art
      • UK Street Art and Travel
  • Street Art
    • Street Art articles
    • Street Art Travel Guides
  • Maps
  • Tours
  • Newsletter
  • Concierge
  • About
    • About Me
    • Kind of Personal posts
    • Privacy and Cookie Policy