Swimming pool

Moita Raza

Raza Bedroom

Raza Kitchen

Prices Currency Conversion

Rental periods
Monte Raza: 20 December - 7 January:	900 euros (up to 4 pers)	1100 euros (up to 6 pers)
Monte Raza: 21 June - 13 September	900 euros (up to 4 pers)	1100 euros (up to 6 pers)
Monte Raza: All other times of the year	760 euros (up to 4 pers)	960 euros (up to 6 pers)
Montinho: 20 December - 7 January	560 euros (up to 2 pers)	760 euros (up to 4 pers)
Montinho: 21 June - 13 September	560 euros (up to 2 pers)	760 euros (up to 4 pers)
Montinho: All other times of the year	450 euros (up to 2 pers)	650 euros (up to 4 pers)

Notes on prices
Prices are for the property per week in euros - exchange rate conversion calculated at time of booking.
Infants under 2 are free of charge - 2 cots available.
Prices include Portuguese VAT at 5%.

Changeover day
Changeover day, Saturday.

Monte Raza (3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 7)

Bedrooms: Double bedroom ideal for honeymooners with en-suite bathroom featuring a bath for 2 with raindance shower. Private south facing balcony with glorious views of Vale de Rodam and Marvão castle. Wren bedroom with twin/double bed with en-suite bathroom with stand alone bath and raindance shower. Patio under the rocks for breakfast and evening drinks. Oak bedroom with twin handpainted Alentejana beds and furniture and adjoining bathroom with raindance shower. Ample space for additional children's beds if required. Mattreses and pillows have been chosen for comfort. Fully equipped kitchen with large workspace. Open-plan eating area with large wooden table, and sitting area featuring a traditional bread-oven and stone fireplace with logburner. Double doors open onto the Strawberry Vine patio where many meals will be enjoyed!

Montinho (2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 5)

Bedrooms: Double bedroom with handpainted double bed and furniture and en-suite bathroom with bath and shower. Double doors lead onto a private patio with views of the Rodam valley and Marvão castle. Twin bedroom with handpainted Alentejana beds and furniture and adjoining bathroom with sunflowerhead shower. Fully equipped kitchen open-plan with wooden dining table, comfortable sitting area with large stone fireplace and logburner, all under 1 vaulted chestnut wooden ceiling.

Notes on accommodation
Amenities provided:
All fresh towels and bed-linen are provided on a weekly basis. A complimentary welcome food pack is provided on arrival including a bottle of local wine and home grown olive oil.
Each house has: hob/stove - oven- fridge/freezer - microwave - dishwasher - TV/DVD - telephone - wifi Internet - central heating - woodburning stove - cot - extra folding beds - shared saline swimming pool.
There is full central heating for the cooler months, as well as a log-burner in each house. Logs are provided from the farm.
There is a separate laundry room, with washing machine and dryer, iron and ironing board; for the use of both houses.

Outside
The houses are situated in their own 60 acres of stonewalled fields with oak and olive trees. The pool area is lawned and very relaxing, and has barbecue facilities and outdoor chairs and tables. The rocky hillside covered in wild lavender and broom is a favourite area to scramble and explore. Walk to Marvão for lunch up medieval tracks. It will take you a good hour, or more if you stop to enjoy the amazing views over the Spanish sierras, and identify the wild flowers and butterflies and birds as you climb.
Wild boar are endemic to the area as are a wide range of birds of prey.

Golf
The beautiful and challenging 18-hole Ammaia golf course, set under the Marvão cliffs, is temporarily closed for green renewal, but is expected to re-open later in 2008.

Special interest holidays
Birdwatching: Guests at Monte Raza and Montinho will be given advice on the best spots in the area to see the different bird species and you can arrange with Peter to go on a guided tour. A half day trip will cost you the price of the fuel and lunch! See a wide range of birds including egrets, vultures, eagles, greater and lesser bustard, black-shouldered kite, azure-winged magpie, hoopoe, blue rock-thrush, bee-eaters and many more.
We can arrange a boat trip through the spectacular Tagus gorge near Nisa, half an hour away, where griffon and Egyptian vultures, bonellis eagle, eagle owl and black stork nest.
The wild Sever valley is nearby which you can explore and has many bird species as well as red deer, otters and mongoose, as well as being the Spanish border river.
Walking: Exploring the medieval tracks through the hills is a must and we will provide you with self-guided maps and description of the walks starting from Moita Raza or nearby. Alternatively, go on a led walk.

Travel
Lisbon airport is 2 hours drive. Advice on car hire will be provided on request.
From airport, you can take the south route through the cork forests and white villages of the Alentejo via Estremoz and Portalegre to Castelo de Vide.
Or the north route through wilder country up the Tagus valley via Abrantes and Alpalhão.
Ferry to Santander in northern Spain, then drive via Madrid or Salamanca. All motorway, then main road from Cáceres via Valencia de Alcantara to the Portuguese frontier.

Distances
Marvão: 6 km. World Heritage candidate. An amazing walled village and castle on a clifftop.
Portagem: 6 km. Restaurants below Marvão with views of the floodlit castle at night.
Castelo de Vide: 6 km. Shops, cafes and restaurants. Visit the Jewish quarter below the castle.
Valencia de Alcantara: 25 km. In Spain. Visit the Monday street market.
Portalegre: 20 km. Capital of the Alto Alentejo. Visit the cork factory for unusual gifts from the shop, and see the famous tapestries being made.

Further details
Life has changed very little in this part of Portugal for centuries. Bread is still baked using traditional methods and cheeses, regional wines, honey and olives remain the mainstay of the local diet. The English owners of Raza have been farming near Elvas for more than 25 years and are now involved in agri-environmental consultancy and rural tourism. It goes without saying that they have an extensive knowledge of the area and the Portuguese way of life. Peter and Rosemary make a point of trying to be at the house to welcome you when you arrive. There is a phone in the house so that you can contact them in case of difficulty. They are also available to give you advice and information should you require it.
Swimming - besides the swimming pool, river bathing is available on the River Sever at Portagem and at various lakes in the area, the most convenient being Apartadura (6km) and Barragem do Póvoa (10km). There are superb municipal swimming pools at Castelo de Vide (6 km) including an indoor heated pool.
Mountain Bikes: there are 8 mountain bikes available for guests and many tracks to explore and the local roads are perfect for cycling with virtually no traffic!
Birdwatching and Walking: see special interest activities.
Riding - Cordero the mule and Improvisto the donkey are residents of Raza and Montinho properties and can be ridden to explore the farm. Riding can be organized locally and a visit to the National Horse Stud at Alter do Chão cannot be missed.
Rock climbing and abseiling under supervision can be arranged nearby.
Tennis courts in Castelo de Vide.
Fishing - Bass and Carp fishing on the Caia and Apartadura lakes. Private fishing can be arranged on a 4 hectare Alfarofia lake near Elvas where the Portuguese record carp was caught this year, weighing 24kg or 52 lbs! You will need a licence which can be obtained in Portalegre.

Booking notes
To confirm your booking,a 50% deposit is payable via bank transfer or a cheque. The remaining 50% is payable 15 days in advance.

This advertiser joined Owners Direct in November 2005,
and has advertised this property with us since February 2008.

Property Ref P4876
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.