The property
The Quinta is located in Setúbal. The view from the Quinta is dazzling. Located on the slope of Serra da Arrábida, its background is the mouth of River Sado, its meeting with the Atlantic Ocean and all the life which thrives in both. During the day, this scenery is speckled here and there by all sorts of boats, from large ships being towed in and out of the harbour to little sail or fishing boats. Occasionally, one might catch a glimpse of dolphins. By night, a blanket of little twinkling city lights, spreading from the castle over Setúbal and across the river to Tróia peninsula, makes us feel like were living in a Sherazades "One thousand and one nights" tale.
The property has two completely equipped windmills, hosting up to four persons each. Each of these touristic lodgings has a suite, a living room with cable television and direct dial telephone, equipped kitchenette, one bathroom and a mezzanine. Outside, guests have a BBQ. Daily maid service. Breakfast products and daily fresh bread included in price and delivered to windmills.
The property has an area of three ha. In it, there is a wonderful swimming pool, a fitness circuit, a playground for the children and picnic zones, with tables and benches to sit comfortably in the shade of trees, swirling paths amid gardens with wooden benches here and there, always in the right place, so you can enjoy the view. As an option to the car parking lot, there is also a garage. Distance to nearest beach is two Km.
Pets allowed on request.
Setubal
Setúbal was inhabited in ancient times by the Phoenicians, and by the Romans who settled on the south bank of the River Sado (in Tróia, opposite the present town), who called it Cetobriga, from which the name Setúbal is derived. It was the Romans who started one of the regions most traditional activities - gathering salt and preserving food in salting tanks whose remains still exist on the Tróia Peninsula.
The development of Setúbal has always been linked to the seafaring activities facilitated by its location at the mouth of the River Sado, and it was already one of the countrys main ports in the 14th century.
Its agricultural produce is also important, some of which is mentioned in documents dating back to the 14th century, in particular grapes, wine, oranges and fish. The wines produced in the surrounding area are still famous today, especially table wines and the moscatel called Setúbal, which can be tasted in the cellars in nearby Azeitão, which also produces excellent cheeses and delicious tarts.
The city was the birthplace of outstanding Portuguese cultural figures, particularly Bocage (a 19th century poet, famous for the ironic tone and social criticism that he put into everything he wrote), and Luísa Todi (an important lyric singer). The Convent of Jesus, which houses the Municipal Museum, is in the Gothic-Manueline style, and the Fort of São Filipe, now converted into a country-house hotel from which one can enjoy a wonderful view of the city, the River Sado, Tróia and the Arrábida mountain range, also deserve special mention.
Around Setúbal there are nature conservation areas, in particular the Sado Estuary Nature Reserve, where it is still possible to watch dolphins in the wild, and the Arrábida Natural Park, which has unique characteristics and contains species that can only be found in areas near the Mediterranean.
There are also excellent beaches, especially Figueirinha, Galapos and Portinho da Arrábida (a magnificent sheltered bay), and on the other side of the River Sado, within easy reach by ferry, there is the Tróia peninsula with about 18 kms of beaches and a golf course.
The Troia peninsula
Situated on a peninsula on the south side of the River Sado, opposite the city of Setúbal, with which there is a regular ferry link, Tróia still has important Roman ruins, in particular a plant for salting fish (an important industrial complex at the time). These remains are evidence of the Roman settlement of Cetobriga, which was moved to the other side of the river and gave its name to the city of Setúbal.
Tróia is nowadays a tourist resort with excellent sandy beaches 18 Km long in all, plenty of hotel accommodation and a demanding golf course.
The International Film Festival in June brings world class cinema luminaries to the region.