17th Century farmhouse set in 25 acres of gardens, with superb views over the Douro River, reached by a lovely winding track through the grounds. The property, with its orange, lemon and olive groves, has been in our family for several generations and the many prints, sketches and photographs lining the walls tell their own history of the Port Wine region of Portugal. The property is 70km from the coast and Porto (home of the Port Wine cellars and with its town centre designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The property is an hour drive from Porto City and close to Port Wine Estates. It is served by the Douro Train Line. There are lovely restaurants and well-stocked supermarkets close by. This is the perfect place for nature lovers, writers, historians, wine lovers and everybody that needs a break from hectic city life! INFORMATION REGARDING COVID-19 We want you to enjoy your stay at Quinta do Loureiro and so during these challenging times we assure you that we will be doing everything that we can to make sure that the house is safe for you. We are following the sanitary rules that have been specified by the Portuguese health authorities, Direção Geral da Saúde. The house will be thoroughly deep cleaned between all guest bookings, including all surfaces and bathroom areas. All bed linen and towels will be laundered at a high temperature. Our cleaning staff will wear PPE and wash their hands frequently. They will not be allowed to work if they have Covid-19 symptoms. They will only come to the house to clean when there are no guests staying. We may not be able to interact with you personally to the same level as we would like, but we assure you that we will maintain contact via phone or text and will be available to deal with any problems. We will wash our hands before any contact with you and we will wear a face-mask and maintain social distancing on face to face meetings and ask that you do the same. Getting Around in the Local Area Quinta do Loureiro is situated in a stunning location in the Douro valley. Because of its fairly remote location – although it is only about an hour’s drive to Porto – we have always advised guests to hire a car. Recently however, we have realised that some people might like the option to use taxis, or a combination of public transport and taxis. After all, the main railway line from Porto stops at a station just a five minute taxi ride away! So, we have put together a selection of possible taxi rides and excursions. All prices are as of late 2022, but are subject to change. We can provide many other ideas for trips out by train or taxi in the local area – and further afield. You only have to ask! Examples of individual taxi trips prices: To and from Porto airport: 170 Euros each way. Local supermarket for shopping: 60 Euros each trip. Visit to a local winery or regional restaurant (cost of tour and/or meals not included): 170 Euros Other one-day leisure trips or tours: 170 Euros. Taxi return trip to local train station at Mosteirô or transport to and from the Porto Antigo Hotel or a local restaurant: 30 Euros. We can also make your transfer back to the airport more enjoyable, with, for example: Lunch at Ribeira , downtown touristic area of Porto city , a river cruise and in case of a late check in flight a tasting tour at one of the Port wine cellars. Of course we will always do our very best to accommodate guests’ requests, so if there is anywhere else you would like to take a taxi tour to, please just ask! New for 2023 is our one day tour to the tourist attraction at Arouca for a total cost of 200 Euros. This includes: Stunning scenic walkways – 8700 m long – we book your tickets and drive you there. Visit 516 Arouca, the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world, 516 m long at the municipality of Arouca with breathtaking views over the river Paiva. NB: Note that the walkways and 516 Arouca can be visited the same day. We take care of everything and also included is a local visit to Arouca, a stop for shopping and return. Our weekly taxi package. We offer for up to eight guests, with no car hire, a package for week’s taxi hire to cover average needs for 650 Euros. One of the main benefits of this is that there is no need to worry about how to get to the house, or negotiate unfamiliar roads, especially at night. For example: Transfer from and to the airport Three trips to a local supermarket A one day winery tour. Other trips can be arranged for an additional fee. Individual trips would be at the prices stated above, similarly for guests staying for less than a week. For eight people the car will be replaced by a nine-seater van with a surcharge of 10 % for each individual cost. The check-in time can be flexible. When you arrive, Francisco the owner will be waiting for you to give you the keys and give you details that you need to know about the house. Quinta do Loureiro is open all year round, but preferably for longer lets from mid-October to mid-April when regular holiday bookings are available. Please make an enquiry for more details including current rates.