With a spacious garden, private pool and beautifully traditional decor, Villa Aliana is an utterly charming home for up to eight guests to enjoy the rustic charm of rural Portugal. The living room is beautifully traditional, with a lovely fireplace and TV in front of a casual seating area, all set against rustic stone walls and tiled floors. Enjoy meals at the large dining table, with space for everyone to gather and enjoy quality time together, bathed in the light flowing in from the exterior doors, or have a quite breakfast at the kitchen table, ready to embrace the day. The kitchen has both a traditional and more modern oven, and plenty of space and equipment for you to cook up a storm together. There are four sublime bedrooms, enjoying everything from vintage bedframes and furnishings to traditional stone windows. There are three doubles, two of which are in the main building, and one twin which is also in the main building. The third double bedroom is in the quaint cottage which sits alongside the garden area. Much like the rest of the villa, exquisite artwork adorns the perfectly white walls and soft bedside lighting creates a wonderful ambience by night, while during the day the natural light floods in through the large windows. The hallway is a decorative and beautiful as any part of the house. There are three bright and modern full bathrooms, as well as a guest WC in the cottage. The enchanting garden is spacious, varied and utterly beautiful, especially in spring and summer as the flowers begin to blossom bringing all manner of colours into the grounds. A large hammock hung between the trees gives you the perfect location to spend a peaceful afternoon, while the football field and the childrens play area ensure that kids (and big kids!) of all ages will be entertained and content at all times. Of course, the private pool is the most obvious spot for the whole group to enjoy hours of fun, frolicking and fiery hot sun! Retire to the shade of the umbrella as the day heats up and return to the water to cool off when it all gets too much! The picnic bench on the upper terrace is ideal for an alfresco meal in the shade of the trees. #### Features The Villa Situated alongside a tributary of the River Neiva, Villa Aliana is your perfect countryside retreat. Within easy reach of the nearest village, where you will find a selection of local bars and restaurants. Once back at the villa the comfortable furnishings will help you relax from your full day of exploring northern Portugal. Main House - Dining & living area - Fully equipped kitchen - Master double bedroom, with en-suite - Double bedroom - Twin bedroom - Communal bathroom Cottage - Double bedroom, with en-suite - Guest WC Exterior - Private swimming pool (10mx5m) - Extensive lawn area - Outdoor seating & BBQ - Parasols - Private parking - Sun loungers #### Location Nestled in the fabulous rural landscape of Minho, the nearest village to Villa Aliana is just over a kilometre away, where you will find small shops and cafes. On the border of the two districts of Braga and Viana do Castelo, Villa Aliana is in the ideal location to explore the fascinating history of the region, as well as the sublime natural landscape. The delightful market town of Barcelos is just a 15-minute drive away, while the stunning historical centre of Viana do Castelo is just 20 minutes in the opposite direction, where there are even sandy beaches! The countrys only National Park, the mountainous nature reserve of Peneda Geres National Park is 35 minutes north-east, and hosts prehistoric remains, walking trails and rugged hills as well as deer, wolves and golden eagles! Ponte de Lima, one of Portugals oldest and most historic towns with a delightful range of shops, bars and restaurants among the ornate squares and cobbled alleyways is just 20 minutes away. While the town of Braga, the capital of the district, is about 25 minutes away and hosts many relics of the regions diverse history. With so much on your doorstep, you can visit a new historical and beautiful town every day! Minho is a fantastic, largely rural region on the northernmost Atlantic tip of Portugal, bordering the Spanish region of Galiza, with which it shares many attributes. Minho is perhaps most famous as the home of the Vinho Verde, a crisp, dry white wine (although as the name suggests, it is in fact green!) best enjoyed with a local fish dish. Portugal itself is a small, fascinating country at the most Western point of mainland Europe. The capital, Lisbon, is known for its lively nightlife, with endless bars and clubs full of fun-loving locals and tourists alike, but also has plenty of fascinating history (check out Belem, jam-packed with monuments!) and undulating terrain, famously termed the ‘city of the seven hills. From Lisbon, it is very quick to travel by the domestic high-speed train line to the city of Braga, which will connect you fairly quickly to Villa Aliana. With a vast coastline with the powerful Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is a true paradise for the keen surfer, or indeed even those looking to try if for the first time. And for those less keen on surfing, the beaches of Portugal are still well worth a visit for their beautifully clear waters and fine sands.