General: A BIG luxury house, only four years old, the base of which was a ruin. The owner has transformed the previously cultivated land, which has a SPECTACULAR open view of the mountains across the Alva river, into park-like terraces. The copious space both inside and outside, together with a semi-isolated position and total tranquility makes this a property different to most others (perhaps also influenced by the owners' 25 year residence in Sweden). They are selling as their busy Restaurant in Coimbra prevents them from spending much time here.

Location: About 2km outside of Santa Ovaia along a cul-de-sac track, which ends about 500m past his entrance drive.

Size of land: 5,000m2

Vegetation and Views: The view over the mountains is SPECTACULAR (135 degrees) and can be enjoyed from the long and wide front verandah/balcony which stretches the length of the house. The house is surrounded by the land on all sides, at the back with trees. Towards the right side of the house is the long driveway to the house with pretty trimmed hedges and shrubs as well as a fruit orchard of at least 50 trees. Even more to the right is a big chuck of mainly mature eucalyptus forest with some oaks and pines strewn in. Left of the house there are terraces covered with grass as well as exotic type plants, trees and shrubs.
Directly in front of the house the land descends by way of wide terraces with little trace of the former cultivation activities and appearing more like a big spreadout open-style park. There is also a pretty pond with fountain.

Buildings : This house is different. Space is what it offers. Each floor has 230m2 surface space divided up as follows:
Ground level: Coming up the drive one arrives at a parking area and can see the WIDE LONG garage. This garage takes up more than half the total space under the house. It is GIGANTIC ! Once in the garage along the back wall there is a spacious bar area with a brick wine rack along the back wall for 100's of bottles. There is also a bathroom in the left back corner and to the right a massive room which has been used as an open style apartment.

First floor: Going up exterior granite steps one arrives at the front door which looks out over a giant patio which is flanked towards the left by the "outside living" rooms. These consist of: from left to right, an open wood store, an open fronted dining area, a country kitchen with bread oven, barbeque facilities and wash up, and a bathroom with shower, toilet and basin.
Entering the front door is (again) a very spacious entrance hall area from which most rooms are entered. The walls here are tiled halfway up in tasteful modern Portuguese design tiles. To the left is first one double bedroom. Thereafter the BIG beautiful kitchen with pink marble work surfaces, wooden cabinets, quality appliances and a table and chairs in one corner. From the kitchen (along the side of the house) is a door leading out onto an alcoved verandah, once again with table and chairs. This overlooks the side garden and has granite steps leading down into it.
At the far end of the hall is another double bedroom with a pretty balcony overlooking the side garden. Turning back towardsthe front door one finds the main bathroom - luxury but of medium size. Along from this is the door left into the long lounge, which has a granite open fireplace mantle, typical of this "stonemason's" area. There is also a double wooden windowed door leading out onto the long and wide front balcony / verandah which runs the length of the house. Back in the hall the last door is the main double bedroom which also has a door onto the verandah. In the hall there is also a big wide built-in cupboard wherein coats and shoes can be stored. The floors in this house are all either of a big terracotta colour or beige coloured glazed tile. The house also has wooden shutters are around (windows and doors).

Electricity : Normal

Water: 2 Watermines and a big well and water tank which is always full. Good quality drinking water.

Sanitation: Septic tank

Telephone: New owner will have to apply for transfer of existent line

Access: Approx 1km track from the village tarmac into the drive of the house. In some places this is bumpy but not bad by Portuguese standards

Distance to nearest city and amenities: 11km to Oliveira do Hospital and 15km to Tabua

Distance and nearest airport: 200km to Porto

Distance sea: 110km to Figueira da Foz

Comments: This is a succesful mixture between refined and rustic, luxury and everyday. Here one can feel freedom and security all in one. A very pleasant relaxed feeling is what I found there. A place where on arrival from the our busy stressed city lives on can "sigh" once and already feel calmness descending over one.

Advertiser contact details
Name: Amelia
Email: Contact the Advertiser
Ad Ref: 15539