Villa Castanheiro

Villa Castanheiro is located one hour from Porto International Airport, just 1.8 km from the old Roman town of Caminha. It is 25 minutes from the delightful historic town of Viana do Castelo. The Minho’s fabulous beaches are just moments away. The ancient town of Caminha is located near the mouth of the River Minho which separates Portugal and Spain. This characterful town boasts many historical buildings including the 12th century national monument, Torre do Relogio de Caminha. This is the clock tower which forms part of the old city walls. You can climb to the top of the tower to enjoy fabulous panoramic views of the town. The lively main town square, the Praca Conselheiro Silva Torres, boasts many cafes and restaurants and an interesting fountain which used to supply drinking water for the town. The 16th century Igreja da Misericordia was once a hospital and hostel for pilgrims travelling to Santiago de Compostela. The grandest church is the Igreja Matriz at the end of Rua Direita. It boasts some incredible tiles from the seventeenth century. A ferry connects the two banks of the River Minho plus there are bridges further along the river. The delightful Spanish town of Tui can be found on the northern side of the Minho River. 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.

Visitors staying at Villa Castanheiro are moments away from magnificent beaches, some wild and boasting incredible surf and others more sheltered. The beautiful Foz do Minho Beach is located next to the River Minho, a wonderful area of magnificent natural beauty, fine golden sands and delightful walking trails. It is fantastic for windsurfing. Just around the corner is another sandy wonder, Praia do Camarido followed by Praia de Moledo and Vila Praia de Ancora which is roughly ten minutes from the villa. At the mouth of the Minho River are 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.

Villa Castanheiro’s surrounding countryside and rivers are fabulous, brimming with Camarido pine trees and picturesque walking trails with stunning views. Miardouro da Fraga is an amazing viewpoint with exceptional panorama of the Minho River and the surrounding landscape. Another fabulous viewpoint is at Santo Antao. The Serra D’Arga Mountain offers sensational vistas as well as picturesque natural lagoons and waterfalls which eventually lead to the golden sands of Vila Praia de Ancora. Visitors also enjoy horse riding, rafting and canoeing and golf on an excellent 18-hole course nestled in the hills outside the Roman town of Ponte de Lima, roughly 40 minutes drive away.

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, river bathing in Labruja, mountain biking or hiking in the Serra D’Arga or birdwatching in the Lagoas de Bertiandos.

Viana do Castelo is one of Portugal’s many hidden gems. It boasts 19th century boulevards, narrow lanes lined with splendid Manueline houses, spacious plazas, beautiful churches, a gorgeous riverfront, excellent restaurants and cafes and its hill-perched giant 1909 basilica Santa Luzia Church. You can reach the basilica by climbing the steps, taking the car or riding the funicular. From the top, visitors delight in a gob-smacking view over the town, rated the world’s third most beautiful panorama by the National Geographic Magazine. The town also boasts St Mary the Great’s Cathedral built in the fifteenth century. As well as offering architectural grandeur, Viana do Castelo also offers seaside charm. A little ferry takes you to the magnificent Cabadelo Beach where you can kite surf, bask in the Portuguese sunshine and wander along the wooden promenade.

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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 >>