jorgesanchez's travel recommendations

This is more than a 5 stars hotels, this is a real palace and a privilege to stay there. It was a palace of Neo Manuelino style where the last kings of Portugal stayed during their hunting holidays. At the beginning it was a monastery founded by Carmelites monks. You still can visit a monastery of the XVII century nearby, waterfalls and exuberant nature. Although I did not sleep there, I could manage to get inside (only guests are allowed there, even to drink a beer in the bar or to have lunch in the restaurant) and admired for a whole hour the magnificence of the place, the hall, two rooms, the restaurant, its gardens and breathtaking atmosphere up in the mountains, encircled by a true jungle of foliage and fine-looking trees. It is located not far from Coimbra, at about 25 kilometres of distance and it is really worth to go there, walking or hitchhiking, even if you do not plan to spend the night there.

Address: Bussaco Palace Bussaco Aveiro Portugal Phone: + 351 231937970 E-mail: bussaco@almeidahotels.com Price: exclusive