A Sublime and Luxurious Experience at Alentejo Region

Just over an hour south of Lisbon on the Alentejo coast, it is Comporta. This fantastic town offers a rustic scene of fishermen's thatched cottages, rice farming, and quaint wooden boats. Its outstanding feature is due to the breathtaking and long sandy beaches that rival those of the Algarve in beauty and also benefit from far fewer crowds, a perfect antidote to the crowds of the Algarve.

Comporta’s coastal charms are usually reserved for those how to appreciate nature and a calm and relaxing environment. So, unveil and learn more about this sublime and luxurious experience in the Alentejo region.

The Accommodation - Sublime Comporta Villas 

The fantastic Sublime Comporta is composed of 23 rooms and suites, and also 22 villas ranging from two to five bedrooms. Each beautiful villa has a private pool, a fireplace, and extensive outdoor areas. They are scattered throughout the property, adding an environment of intimacy to the hotel.

Among the many amenities available there is also the spa with a Turkish bath and sauna, 3 restaurants (2 seasonal), 4 swimming pools (including a heated indoor pool and a children's outdoor pool), a gym, a yoga pavilion, tennis and paddle tennis courts, an organic garden, a forest garden, and an orchard. It is simply an outstanding place to stay.

The Beaches - Praia das Furnas, Praia do Carvalhal and Praia da Comporta

According to the well-known magazine Lonely Planet, Furnas beach is considered one of the best beaches in Portugal this year. On the left bank of the Rio Mira, Furnas is a long stretch of fine sand backed by small rocky cliffs, the area of the beach is composed of many sandbars that make it relaxing to frolic in the waves. This fantastic beach is not in Comporta, but in Vila Nova de Milfontes but if you wish to travel for a bit in order to explore more of this region and in the end have a swim and relax then this is a great option to bear in mind. 

If you wish to spend a day at the beach that will be near the accommodation then the beach of Comporta strikes out on its own path. It is unlike anywhere you have been before. It is simply just a wonderful beach to spend some quality time and why not try a wonderful experience that consists of riding a horse through the beach and enjoying all the scenic views that the area offers?

Another amazing beach that you can experience is located on one of the most beautiful coastlines in Europe and on one of the most stunning beaches in the area - Carvalhal beach. It is simply worth the visit.

The Wine and Food Experiences

This region is filled with incredible places that offer the best products that the Alentejo has to offer. One of them is the Sublime Comporta. This is a meeting place where friends and families get together surrounded by breathtaking nature and enjoy a delicious meal, and a day at the beach with the quality of Sublime Comporta but with simplicity aligned with the "attitude" of Comporta.

A fantastic estate that shouldn't be missed is the world-renowned Herdade do Esporão. The Herdade presents itself as an Estate steeped in history and producer of outstanding quality wines. Located in the heart of Reguengos de Monsaraz, where wines are more balanced and seductive, simultaneously thriving and pleasant, luxuriant, and with good aging potential. Visit its vines and its cellar is considered the heart that beats to the rhythm of the harvest and as the result of the work defined by the calendar and by the enology team. Enjoy a private guided visit with Premium wine tasting accompanied by a cheese and sausages board.

After your private visit and unique wine tasting why not lunch at Esporão Restaurant? The Herdade has adopted a young and enthusiastic team that privileges the traditional gastronomy and the typical dishes of this region although not neglecting some contemporaneity, managing a cuisine that meets and exceeds the highest standards of quality and functionality. 

After lunch, continue your wine and food experiences but this time at Adega da Cartuxa. Located in the former refectory of the Jesuit retirement home, they taught at the University of Évora in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. With his expulsion in 1759, by order of the Marquis of Pombal, the property became part of the state, starting a few years later, in 1776, working as an important mill of wine absorbed the wine production in the region. Acquired in the nineteenth century by the Eugénio de Almeida family, the Cartuxa Cellar has undergone several renovations and expansions over time, preserving the richness of its architectural and historical memory. Savor a private visit to its cellar and have a wine tasting that is composed of four varieties of wines that are paired with sausage, cheese, jam region, and other delicacies.

If you are a gastronomy lover and love to learn new techniques and recipes then why not experience an Alentejo Cuisine Workshop at Convento do Espinheiro’s Tasca do Chef? Inside the space, there is a wood stove of the Conventual Kitchen, a small but precious Manueline specimen covered by a robust barrel vault that the Chef found the ideal space to share decades of experience dedicated to Alentejo gastronomy. You will be armed with fresh ingredients, including aromatic herbs that are grown in the monastery garden. You will embark on a journey of flavors where you will make old homemade recipes under the guidance of Chef Jorge Peças. 

Another incredible food experience that you should at on the list is the Food Circle Restaurant. In the middle of the Organic Garden, at Sublime Comporta’s outdoor “farm-to-table” restaurant, you will be inspired by the principles of permaculture. With a menu based on sustainable production and with fire playing a leading role in the cooking process, you will enjoy an unforgettable experience in direct contact with the chefs and the earth. Dine under the stars and surrounded by the aromas of the garden, is simply marvelous.

Last but not least why not visit the amazing Bacalhôa. Bacalhôa is a famous Palace and Quinta located in the Azeitão. The estate with a history that dates back to the beginning of the Avis Dynasty offers an environment that breathes the history of the Portuguese ancestors and will take you on a tour in a region where the most predominant wine is the sweet Muscat. Enjoy a Private Lunch that is served at the Bacalhôa Palace, filled with sumptuous surroundings, a magnificent Renaissance Bacalhôa Palace, which is home to the first painted tile in Portugal as well as some excellent sweet wines. Also, visit their Museum/Winery and Bacalhôa Palace with an exclusive tour guide and a fabulous wine tasting.

Cultural Sites and Golf

If you wish to know a little bit more about the culture and heritage of the Alentejo region then we suggest a drive/walking tour with a certified private guide of the city of Évora – a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Évora’s well-preserved historic center is one of the richest monuments in Portugal, worth the epithet of City-Museum. The Roman Temple of Évora is one of the most important Roman monuments in Portugal. It is located at the highest point of the city and was part of the Roman forum. It is thought to have been created around the 1st century to honor Emperor Augustus but later came to be known as the Temple of Diana. The Cathedral was built between the 13th and 14th centuries in Gothic style, it is one of the most important medieval cathedrals in the country, with a plan inspired by the Romanesque Lisbon Cathedral. In the 14th century a cloister was built and the statues of the apostles of the main portal, the masterpiece of Portuguese medieval sculpture, were carved. In the 18th century, the chancel was rebuilt in an exuberant Baroque style. The Church of San Francisco was reconstructed during the reign of D. João II and finished in the time of D. Manuel. Its architecture and decoration mix the Gothic, Mudejar and Manueline styles. The Chapel of the Bones located in the Church of San Francisco was built in the eighteenth century and is entirely lined with human bones. Amazing isn't it? 

The outstanding Troia Golf was voted one of the 10 best resorts in continental Europe by Golf World magazine in 2019 and it was in 2011 was elected as one of the best golf courses in the world by Rolex and is now included in The Rolex World's Top 1,000 Golf Courses guide. Located Between Sado Estuary and Arrábida Mountain, you can enjoy 6 hectares of 18-hole, par-72 courses along the beach and its magnificent views of the Arrábida mountains. Whatever your handicap, the Robert Trent Jones Sr. course is perfect for honing your technique and demanding the best performance for the best results. If you are a Golf lover this is the perfect choice for you.