Casa Clarissa Portugal

A breathtakingly attractive, majestic manor house built in 1778, Casa Clarissa offers a unique opportunity to enjoy a real piece of classical beauty in the north of Portugal.
A bright white front greets you as you wind your way along the tree-lined driveway and pull into the large courtyard on arrival, with ample free parking space for the whole group.
The house is pleasantly obscured from view by a flourishing expanse of old trees. Inside you are met by a series of lovingly restored rooms brimming with historical charm.
The grand piano in the dining room, a fantastic array of shared spaces, including a formal dining room, casual living rooms and a brilliant games room highlight the beautiful fusion of historic character and modern luxury.
Antique furniture sits delicately among perfectly restored rooms of elegance and splendour, framed between floors and ceilings of polished wood. The casual living space is the perfect place to enjoy an evening, with a pool table for all to enjoy.
And between the many elegant rooms sits a large central courtyard, bathing the house in the natural light of day and creating a sense of oneness with the outside world.
Each of the ten bedrooms is delightfully rich in history and simultaneously simple in design. Traditional patterned rugs sit beneath antique drawers and dressers, while majestic bed frames create a dazzling centrepiece for each room.
There are seven double bedrooms and three twin bedrooms, all of which enjoy private ensuite facilities and central heating. The Alentejo-style décor demonstrates a respect for the history of the house, intensified by the fresh paint and beautifully restored floors and vaulted ceilings.
Complementing the exquisite interior facilities is an utterly beautiful garden. A substantial private swimming pool sits just beyond the main entrance to the house and has space for the whole group to spend some quality time together in the sun.
Sun loungers and benches, shaded and unshaded, surround the pool to provide the perfect relaxation station for the hot and hazy afternoons. Indeed, within the property, there is even a small museum with a collection of vintage cars, the passion of the current owner!Enveloped in luscious forests and rolling hills, Casa Clarissa is located in the beautiful Centro region, famous for its beautifully diverse landscapes and deeply historical towns and villages.
Here you are ideally situated to enjoy the quaint communities as well as the slow pace of life in rural Portugal. The city of Viseu is about 30km away, while Aveiro is under an hour away and hosts many relics of the region’s rich history. The spas of São Pedro do Sul are just a 10 minutes’ drive away.
The thriving town of Porto is about 110km away and is a UNESCO World Heritage city, built along the hills overlooking the Douro river estuary, with a busy historical and commercial centre.
Porto is, of course, famous for its eponymous Port wine, a 40% sweet, fortified wine, and you can enjoy many a port tour, and we would highly recommend a visit to the various wine caves, both of which are thoroughly affordable and excellent value.
Around two hours away is the fabulous Peneda-Gerês National Park, which is the only National Park in the country. It is a mountainous nature reserve that includes prehistoric remains, walking trails, rugged hills as well as deer, wolves and golden eagles! 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 Belém, 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 reasonably quickly to Casa Clarissa.
With a vast coastline with the mighty Atlantic Ocean, Portugal is a real paradise for the keen surfer, or indeed even those looking to try it 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. Casa Clarissa is just under an hour to the coast to the West, and under two hours to the Spanish border in the East.At Excellence Luxury Villas we pride ourselves on going that little bit further for our guests. From private chefs to babysitters we can help you arrange those little extras that make it a truly memorable holiday. Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team who will be happy to help. We can typically help you arrange any of the following:
– Maid service/extra cleaning- Private chef/cook/catering- Welcome hamper/pre-stocked fridge- Local day-trips or tours- Airport transfers- Babysitting/childcare services
Simply fill in the concierge request form or contact Excellence Luxury Villas Concierge Team.
Please note that all extras are subject to availability and must be requested in advance of the holiday (prices on request). Due to some rural/remote locations, not all services will be available at all properties. However, we will always do our best to fulfill your requests!