Casa Paracoba

Casa Paracoba enjoys a fabulous, countryside location very close to Caminha, a traditional Portuguese fortified border town, and its sensational beaches. Caminha is a fabulous destination for a holiday. It is completely unspoilt, steeped in history and is brimming with gorgeous buildings, fine dining eateries and wonderful shops. By the end of the 19th century, the railway line between Porto and Valenca was established so the Eiffel Bridge was built by Gustave Eiffel, of the Paris Eiffel Tower fame. You can admire his work from the riverside park along Avenida de Camoes in the town. Another historic monument is the Igreja Matriz de Caminha where you can admire tiles from the seventeenth century. The ruins of the Fort of Insua stand on a tiny island in the middle of the estuary, originally built in the fifteenth century to defend the entrance to the river. The island was inhabited by monks from the 14th century.

The surrounding countryside and rivers are fabulous, brimming with Camarido pine trees and picturesque walking trails. Miardouro da Fraga is an astonishing viewpoint roughly 25 minutes walk from the town centre. You can enjoy stunning views of the Minho River and the surrounding landscape. Another excellent viewpoint is at Santo Antao. The Serra D’Arga Mountain will leave you speechless. It offers sensational vistas as well as beautiful natural lagoons and waterfalls which eventually lead to the golden sands of Vila Praia de Ancora, ten minutes from Casa Paracoba. This glorious beach extends from the fishing port over to the Ancora River and offers some wild, strong Atlantic waves and high quality surfing. Vila Praia de Ancora is famous for its delicious fish restaurants. Closer to Caminha, Foz do Minho Beach forms part of the Lagarteira Fortress which was built in the 17th century to serve as a defence. It is fantastic for windsurfing with lovely scenery.

The delightful town of Tui can be found on the northern side of the Minho River, in Galicia. It boasts a beautiful historic centre and an excellent range of gourmet dining as well as excellent shops. Tui is located south of the Pontevedra province sitting opposite the Portuguese town of Valenca. The towns are connected by a nineteenth century bridge. Valenca do Minho is located on the hillside overlooking the left bank of the Minho and on the main road that links the Spanish Santiago de Compostela with Porto. Tourists flock to the town to buy embroidered tablecloths and sheets, the speciality of the town.

Viana do Castelo’s compact historic centre boasts extravagant religious buildings, delightful cafes, elegant plazas and narrow shopping streets which open onto the banks of the Rio Lima. The pearly white, neo-Byzantine Santa Luzia Church presides over the city, sitting high on the hilltop.

Within easy reach of the villa, Ponte de Lima is one of the most characterful and picturesque towns of Northern Portugal. It sits on the southern banks of the Lima River. The location has been the main river crossing since the Romans constructed a bridge in 1AD. There is a delightful array of ancient houses, grand religious buildings, pretty plazas and museums. There are also a number of colourful flower gardens and the town is surrounded with beautiful natural scenery. Ponte de Lima is an excellent centre for adventure activities such as the Ecovia cycling route, kayaking along the Lima River, mountain biking or hiking in the Serra D’Arga or birdwatching in the Lagoas de Bertiandos. You can river bathe in Labruja.

Further south, Braga is regarded as one the main religious centres of Portugal, with the oldest cathedral and many Gothic churches. Every hour you will hear a cocophony of different church bells ringing out! It is the third largest city of Portugal and is a joy to explore. Braga is an enthralling university city and the setting for Bom Jesus do Monte, a fine monument. The historic centre is fully pedestrianised. There are pretty city gardens, charming plazas and busy shopping streets.

Read more about Minho

Please be aware that the location tab shown on the website is not based on the property's exact location; therefore, all location amenities are an approx of facilities, restaurants, and villages/towns you might find around the property. The property's exact location will be provided to you before arrival and might come along with some recommendations about the area and what to visit.

ABOUT MINHO

The areas of Minho extend from the Spanish border in the north, south to Porto and east to the mountains of Vila Real. It is a green and fertile area of rolling hills encompassing the great rivers Minho, Lima and Douro, and the National Park of Peneda Geres. The countryside of the region is typified by long, sandy beaches bordered by pine woods, picturesque villages nestling among vine-covered hills, and historic towns such as Amarante, Guimaraes, Barcelos, Ponte de Lima, and Viana do Castelo.

The area encompasses a range of postcard-worthy landscapes and features that could almost be Portugal in microcosm: dreamy river scenes, high mountains, rolling vineyards, beautiful historic towns, dramatic Atlantic beaches, ancient religious foundations and mysterious archaeological sites.

Then there's the bold, sharp and fruity Vinho Verde to consider. This young wine is fashioned from the fruit of kilometres of vineyards that wind along rivers, over foothills and into Minho mountain villages.

But while you're enjoying one of our fantastic villas in Minho, you may well want to take some time out from all that sun worship to explore everything else the region has to offer – so we've put together this handy travel guide to give you a little help and inspiration!

Check out our Minho Travel Guide >>