Herdade da Matinha

A farming estate with history, that at one time didn’t even have water, and the little light that was there came from the nights when the stars decided to appear and dance in the sky, or from the bright sunny days. The life that abounded came from the laughter of the children, from the stream that babbled along nearby and from the rest of the nature that surrounded the humble house. Life was led with little, but it was enough to be happy. It was from simplicity and from these memories that Herdade da Matinha emerged, located within an ecological reserve in the middle of a nature park. With the family following geographically dispersed paths and the space beginning to echo with a deafening silence, the estate began to receive more and more travellers from the four corners of the world. But the adventure had already begun in 1996, with just four rooms, a kitchen, artistic paintings, classical music and voilá, a modest and happy retreat, eager to encounter emotional life stories. After this stage was completed, the place was improved, multiplying the rooms. Currently, there are 35 independent rooms, spread over four houses. 

The heart of Herdade da Matinha is green and rich in sustainability

Offering a wide range of accommodation, families can opt for a traditional country house with stunning views of the hills, such as the Old House Suite, or for a more refined space with baroque yet rustic influences, the Rose Club Deluxe Superior, with private pool and lounge area. The good news doesn’t end there. Anticipating the possible effects of ‘laziness’, the estate offers a restaurant service through a simple table reservation, preparing typical dishes from the region for a memorable dinner. In order to provide an even more remarkable experience, the estate offers experiences that guarantee total communion with nature, with large and spacious outdoor settings, suitable for enjoying some time alone, doing some meditation, having a picnic or simply sat contemplating the world. Matinha’s location also means that you can explore a network of footpaths in Portugal’s south-west, horse riding, activities such as surfing, body boarding and stand-up paddling, and even to get to know the top of Serra do Cercal, a real hike that challenges everyone’s endurance with its steep inclines throughout the forest. The result is rewarding though, with stunning panoramic views. The heart of Herdade da Matinha is green and rich in sustainability. 55,000 trees have already been planted, from cork oaks to stone pines, and the space features a fertile vegetable garden, which grows to the seasons’ rhythm, while at the same time, focusing on local producers, in order to make its ecological footprint almost non-existent.