Central Portugal holiday farmhouse: Penela

Six Australians and one Greek Englishwoman met in Penela for the last week of March 2008. This house deserves respect. For us, our stay was like having the privilege of staying in a spacious, 'meant-to-be lived-in', well-appointed, private, historical museum. The property was clean and neat and the owner quickly remedied any problems that can happen in older buildings without being invasive or inconvenient. Linen, crockery, cooking utensils, fire wood, oranges, hot water, etc were of good quality and more than adequate. A local bar outside the courtyard was welcoming. All our basic needs could be met in the friendly village - post, pharmacy, restaurant, butcher, grocery store, petrol, etc. Off street car parking was more than adequate for 2 cars. From Penela, we spent days in Porto, parks to the east, Coimbra, Aveiro, Bucaco, Conimbriga, Batalha, Alcobaca and numerous small villages where weekly markets provided us with fresh produce and an opportunity to see how the local people met some of their needs. A short walk to Penela castle provided pamoramic views of the surrounding countryside.
Our only discomfort was caused by: (a)The house has high ceilings, heated by a system from a fireplace. We felt the cold when the fire burned out (mornings). (b) Laundry was a problem for us due to rain each day and no clothes dryer and the washing machine did not spin dry well enough. Oh for sunny blue skies!
In summary, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in this grand and lovingly-kept old house, in a natural village setting in a wonderful, diverse country. For us, a week was too short; a fortnight would have been better.