4-star Hotel / Parador
HEVO4, Aldeia da Serra, Portugal
A living museum among the potteries and vineyards
Nestling in the hills of the beautiful Serra d'Ossa in the Alto Alentejo with spectacular views over a fertile valley, this remarkable C12th Convent, now a hotel, enjoys the perfect, tranquil spot cleverly chosen by monks those many moons ago.
Carefully and sympathetically restored without fancy touches, but with modern day comforts, the Convent boasts an extraordinary collection of 54,000 blue and white decorative tiles, stunning frescoes, Florentine fountains, a Baroque chapel, silent cloisters and relaxing gardens. Two swimming pools and a tennis court and a restaurant serving delicious Alentejo dishes with an innovative touch provide for a very special stay.
All of the rooms and suites are decorated differently and furnished with antiques and some are in renovated monks' cells which even come with open fireplaces! For a real treat the "Viscondessa" suite with its four poster bed has a large rooftop terrace with magnificent views over the surrounding countryside.
Seemingly away from it all, you are perfectly based for exploring the best of the Alto Alentejo with historic Evora a forty minute drive, the lovely "marble" towns of Estremoz, Borba and Vila Vicosa nearer, the pottery town of Redondo within very easy reach and wineries, excellent little restaurants and dolmens all over the place! You will not get bored.
Accommodation
There are forty two twin and double rooms (standard and superior) and suites with en-suite bathrooms (bath or shower).
All of the rooms and suites have air conditioning, Satellite T.V. bathrobes and slippers. Hairdryers are available on request. The rooms and suites in the main building have WIFI. The annex rooms and suites do not.
The Museum wing rooms and suites are in the old cells in the main building in the Museum wing of the Convent.
All the rooms and suites are decorated differently and furnished with antiques.
Some of the superior rooms and suites have open fireplaces. The suites have separate living rooms.
The "Viscondessa" suite has a large rooftop terrace with magnificent views of the surrounding countryside.
Hotel Features
Two swimming pools
Tennis court
Garden
Terraces
Restaurant
Bar
Lift
Sitting rooms with fireplaces
Games room with billiard table
Chapel
Free parking
WIFI (in main building only)
Wheelchair access
Safety deposit box
Bike rental (extra charge)
Restaurant
A buffet breakfast is served in the refectory. This can also be taken in the cloisters or in the garden or in your room.
The hotel has a very good restaurant "La Ermita" serving regional dishes with a special touch both at lunch and dinner. This is open to the public.
For other restaurants there are a couple of very good ones in the village of Aldeia da Serra and an excellent choice in the nearby towns of Borba (renowned to have the best gastronomy), Estremoz, Vila Vicosa and Redondo.
Hotel Facilities
Tour Booking ServiceWiFi all areas
Lift
Garden/Patio/Terrace
Shared Lounge / TV Area
Laundry Service
Air Conditioning
Sports and Wellbeing
Swimming Pool (outdoor, seasonal)Bicycle hire
Tennis
Room facilities (all rooms)
En-suite bathroomHeating
Air conditioning
WIFI
TV
Dining
Restaurant, open to the publicBar, open to the public, serving drinks and light snacks
Bar for clients only serving drinks and light snacks
Accessibility
Facilities adapted for guests with reduced mobilityRoom(s) adapted for guests with reduced mobility
Redondo, Portugal
Aldeia da Serra is a sleepy, typical Alentejo village of whitewashed houses with blue trims in the beautiful, gently rolling countryside of Serra D'Ossa with its vines, cork forests and olive groves. Sheep and cattle graze happily whilst agricultural activities go on around them and several hiking routes are marked to take in the surrounding panorama.
On one of the wine routes "Rota dos Vinhos" of the Alentejo, the village boasts three very good restaurants serving wonderfully tasty and delicious regional food, but there are no other facilities.
The Anta de Candeeira dolmen is nearby and the impressive C12th Convento de Sao Paulo with its extraordinary collection of 54,000 decorative tiles, nestles secretly in the hills.
The friendly town of Redondo, well known for its pottery and wines is a ten minute drive, the lovely "marble" towns of Estremoz, Borba and Vila Vicosa a bit further and historic Evora with all its sights just forty minutes away.
- Visit the lovely, nearby "marble towns" of Estremoz, Borba and Vila Vicosa – all full of treasures.
- If timing is right, don't miss the amazing Saturday market at Estremoz – stalls selling everything from superb local cheeses to live chickens.
- Follow one of the Alentejo wine routes "Rotos do Vinho" stopping off at the many local wineries "Adegas" in the area (You usually need to make an appointment – your hotel or local tourist office can do this for you) to discover the fantastic wines of the Alentejo.
- Take one of the marked walks through the beautiful Serra D'Ossa.
- Buy colourful pottery at Sao Pedro do Corval and Redondo.
- Drive down to friendly Redondo, well known for its pottery and wine. Visit the Pottery museum there and track down ancient potter, Joao Mertola still painting his pots by hand. Visit the Museu do Barro (pottery museum ) there.
- Venture to the hilltop village of Monsaraz with all its history and spectacular views of the Alqueva reservoir, the largest in Europe. Take a boat trip on a C17th Dutch boat there.
- Go to Arraiolos to pick up a handwoven carpet – the village has been making rugs since C12th!
- View the plains from the C16th castle at Evoramonte.
- Visit historic Evora and Elvas.
- Feast on the most delicious regional food at the numerous family run restaurants.
