Casa Paracoba Portugal

Casa Paracoba is an idyllic, contemporary pad for four, nestled in the lush countryside between the historic town of Caminha and the gorgeous sands of Vila Praia de Ancora and only fifty minutes from Porto International Airport. Caminha is located in the Viana do Castelo district of Alto Minho, near the mouth of the River Minho which separates Portugal and Spain. There is plenty to see and admire in this characterful town including the 12th century national monument, Torre do Relogio de Caminha, the clock tower which forms part of the old city walls. You can climb to the top of the tower to enjoy fabulous panoramic views of the town or take a stroll along Rua Direita or Ricardo Joaquim de Sousa Street, the attractive, cobbled main street in the historic centre. The Foz do Minho Beach is located next to the River Minho, a wonderful area of magnificent natural beauty, fine golden sands and delightful walking trails. Just around the corner is another sandy wonder, Praia do Camarido followed by Praia de Moledo and Vila Praia de Ancora. Guests choosing to stay at the fabulous Casa Paracoba enjoy sensational, wild beaches, dramatic landscapes brimming with mountains, lush forests and rivers plus a wonderful array of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture and absolutely delicious, local food and wine.
Your stay at the luxurious Casa Paracoba will take you away from the stresses and strains of everyday life and give you a relaxing holiday in the most beautiful surroundings. The villa enjoys superb interior design and every modern comfort. The villa is all on one level with two gorgeous bedrooms, one immaculate bathroom, a beautiful living space and a truly wonderful garden, terrace and pool. The hilly countryside all around is a beautiful backdrop and you even get to see the sea from the terrace. To make your stay even more memorable, extra services are available at this dreamy retreat, including a private chef who can offer delicious Portuguese cuisine, a masseur, a beautician, wine and olive oil tasting, horse riding, golf, water sports and excursions.
Casa Paracoba’s living space is beautifully designed with a gorgeous, sleek, moss-toned kitchen tucked away in one corner with a stylish breakfast bar and stools, a sumptuous sofa, trendy chairs, a stylish sideboard, beautiful art and a contemporary feature fire. Giant floor-to-ceiling glass doors open to the decked terrace, pool and garden. There is a separate building for laundry.
The villa offers two bright and airy bedrooms, both enjoying minimalist design, plenty of wardrobe space and hotel quality linens. One offers a double bed and the second, comfy twins. They share a beautifully tiled, contemporary shower room.
Casa Paracoba is set on a generous sized, mature garden with a decked, sun drenched terrace which enjoys distant sea views. The swimming pool is a delight and large enough at 7m x 2.5m. Guests can relax in style on quality loungers, reading their holiday books and enjoying the Portuguese sunshine or they can dine alfresco using the villa’s barbecue. The villa and its beautiful plot are very secluded. If you can bring yourselves to leave this slice of heaven, there are beautiful walks from the doorstep, birds to watch, fish to be caught, horses to be ridden, wild beaches to enjoy and cultural treats in Caminha and the Minho’s other charming towns. Casa Paracoba enjoys a fabulous, countryside location very close to Caminha, a traditional Portuguese fortified border town, and its sensational beaches. Caminha is a fabulous destination for a holiday. It is completely unspoilt, steeped in history and is brimming with gorgeous buildings, fine dining eateries and wonderful shops. By the end of the 19th century, the railway line between Porto and Valenca was established so the Eiffel Bridge was built by Gustave Eiffel, of the Paris Eiffel Tower fame. You can admire his work from the riverside park along Avenida de Camoes in the town. Another historic monument is the Igreja Matriz de Caminha where you can admire tiles from the seventeenth century. The ruins of the Fort of Insua stand on a tiny island in the middle of the estuary, originally built in the fifteenth century to defend the entrance to the river. The island was inhabited by monks from the 14th century.
The surrounding countryside and rivers are fabulous, brimming with Camarido pine trees and picturesque walking trails. Miardouro da Fraga is an astonishing viewpoint roughly 25 minutes walk from the town centre. You can enjoy stunning views of the Minho River and the surrounding landscape. Another excellent viewpoint is at Santo Antao. The Serra D’Arga Mountain will leave you speechless. It offers sensational vistas as well as beautiful natural lagoons and waterfalls which eventually lead to the golden sands of Vila Praia de Ancora, ten minutes from Casa Paracoba. This glorious beach extends from the fishing port over to the Ancora River and offers some wild, strong Atlantic waves and high quality surfing. Vila Praia de Ancora is famous for its delicious fish restaurants. Closer to Caminha, Foz do Minho Beach forms part of the Lagarteira Fortress which was built in the 17th century to serve as a defence. It is fantastic for windsurfing with lovely scenery.
The delightful town of Tui can be found on the northern side of the Minho River, in Galicia. It boasts a beautiful historic centre and an excellent range of gourmet dining as well as excellent shops. Tui is located south of the Pontevedra province sitting opposite the Portuguese town of Valenca. The towns are connected by a nineteenth century bridge. Valenca do Minho is located on the hillside overlooking the left bank of the Minho and on the main road that links the Spanish Santiago de Compostela with Porto. Tourists flock to the town to buy embroidered tablecloths and sheets, the speciality of the town.
Viana do Castelo’s compact historic centre boasts extravagant religious buildings, delightful cafes, elegant plazas and narrow shopping streets which open onto the banks of the Rio Lima. The pearly white, neo-Byzantine Santa Luzia Church presides over the city, sitting high on the hilltop.
Within easy reach of the villa, Ponte de Lima is one of the most characterful and picturesque towns of Northern Portugal. It sits on the southern banks of the Lima River. The location has been the main river crossing since the Romans constructed a bridge in 1AD. There is a delightful array of ancient houses, grand religious buildings, pretty plazas and museums. There are also a number of colourful flower gardens and the town is surrounded with beautiful natural scenery. Ponte de Lima is an excellent centre for adventure activities such as the Ecovia cycling route, kayaking along the Lima River, mountain biking or hiking in the Serra D’Arga or birdwatching in the Lagoas de Bertiandos. You can river bathe in Labruja.
Further south, Braga is regarded as one the main religious centres of Portugal, with the oldest cathedral and many Gothic churches. Every hour you will hear a cocophony of different church bells ringing out! It is the third largest city of Portugal and is a joy to explore. Braga is an enthralling university city and the setting for Bom Jesus do Monte, a fine monument. The historic centre is fully pedestrianised. There are pretty city gardens, charming plazas and busy shopping streets. 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 fulfil your requests!