Casas do Rio Sado

The Casas do Rio Sado consist of fifteen guest suites, housed in three buildings near the village of Santa Margarida do Sado, approximately one hour south of Lisbon. The property is set on a 270 hectare estate, along the banks of the River Sado, and with paddy fields, agricultural land and forests of pine and cork oak trees. There is an abundance of wildlife here including 91 different birds - flamingos, storks, herons, loons and ducks to name a few, as well as wild rabbits, hares and otters. Here you will see sheep grazing on the land and you may even come across a wild boar. The property is immersed in nature with marked walking and cycling routes (free bike hire) running through the estate.

Accommodation

• 15 air-conditioned suites
• The suites are modern and comfortable and have a small living room, veranda facing the paddy fields and patio area to the rear. There is a shared kitchen where you can prepare a snack or keep cold drinks and two outdoor swimming pools. Guests can relax on the veranda and watch the seasonal changes from the burgeoning colours of the first buds of Spring to the calm and relaxing brown tones of Autumn and Winter. At night time, on a clear day, you will see the sky lit with thousands of stars and constellations as there is relatively little light pollution in the area

Amenities/Leisure

• Continental buffet breakfast
• Lounge and honesty bar
• Complimentary WiFi in the public areas
• Kitchen for guests' use, open all day, with a stove, microwave and 2 fridges, where guests can also prepare their own meals
• Terraces
• 270 hectares of forested and agricultural land
• Marked walking trails and cycle routes on the property - free use of bicycles (helmets included)
• Viewpoints with picnic area
• Outdoor swimming pool (14 x 6m) and a children's pool (4 x 6m) - open all year
• Free parking
• In the village of Santa Margarida do Sado (700 meters away), there is a cafe serving snacks and a restaurant that serves mainly lunches. There are plenty of restaurants at Canal Caveira (10km) and Figueira de Cavaleiros (14km).
• 21km (18 minutes’ drive) to Grândola and a selection of restaurants and shops.

Rice cultivation: Why not schedule your stay during the rice cultivation period to see how the process works - the sowing season is from May to June and harvest time is between August and September.

Cork oaks cultivation: Watch the bark extraction of cork oaks during the months of July and August, when temperatures often reach 40ºC and the dry weather allows the cork tree to be exposed without damage. It is impressive to see the speed and skill of those handling the axe in order to cut large cork boards without harming the trunk. 

Hiking: Walk at your own pace on one of the orientation trails and discover the beauty of the landscape. Both the 4.5km "River and Rice Path" and the "Route of the Montado" (12km) pass through the landmarks of the estate, including "Sobreira da Longa Vida" - an ancient tree that has aged over several hundred years. 

Picnics: Guests can have a delicious picnic prepared for them with the traditional flavours of bread, cheese and olives and still, flavoured water, juice, jams, toast, fresh fruit and a blanket to relax under the treetops packed with the sounds and smells of nature (payable locally). 

Star gazing: Behold the starry sky from the Houses of the River Sado where an average of 300 sunny days a year associated with unusually low levels of light pollution allows you to observe the majestic Milky Way, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia and a wide variety of other constellations. For groups from 1 to 15, they can arrange an astronomer-led presentation with two telescopes to see details such as Saturn's rings and the Moon's texture (payable locally). 

Beaches

• Odivelas River Beach (33km, 30 minutes’ drive)
• Beach of Carvalhal (46km, 38 minutes’ drive)
• Beach of Galé (43km, 39 minutes’ drive)
• Aberta Nova Beach (42km, 40 minutes’ drive)
• Beach of Melides (46km, 40 minutes’ drive)
• Beach of Comporta (52km, 40 minutes’ drive)

Cultural Centres

• Living Science Center of Lousal (19km, 16 minutes’ drive)
• Oliveira da Serra Oil Mill, Ferreira do Alentejo (17km, 14 minutes’ drive)

Traditional events take place in the nearby village of Santa Margarida do Sado - 700m from the Agroturismo…

• Baile da Pinha (Pine Cone Prom) - end of May - dancing pairs remove ribbons from a pine cone while dancing with the aim of opening the pine cone. The pair who opens the pine cone becomes king and queen of the party - traditional costumes are worn.
• Festa do Rio Sado (Sado River Party) – 3 days at the end of July including gastronomy, shows, handicrafts, a fishing contest, live performances of choral and instrumental groups, a prom with live accordion music and informal singing of Santa Margarida do Sado.
• Dia da Espiga - a catholic religious celebration with pagan origins celebrated on a Thursday 40 days after Easter. People go to the fields to pick ears of wheat and other flowers and make bouquets out of them. Each flower in the bouquet called Ramo de Espigas has a specific meaning: Espiga (ear of wheat) signifies bread and prosperity; Malmequer (daisy) signifies fortune; Papoila (poppy) signifies love; Oliveira (olive branch) signifies peace; Alecrim (rosemary) signifies health; Videira (vine leaves) signifies joy. The bouquet has to be kept in the house (often behind the door) throughout the year as a symbol of prosperity.

Sports facilities

• The Agritourism has two outdoor swimming pools and an outdoor playing area.
• In Grândola and Ferreira do Alentejo there are indoor swimming pools and sports parks: José Afonso Municipal Sports Complex (21km, 20 minutes’ drive); Municipal swimming pool of Ferreira do Alentejo (24km, 18 minutes’ drive); Municipal swimming pool of Grândola (21km, 20 minutes’ drive); Sports Park of Ferreira do Alentejo (Alentejo (23km, 18 minutes’ drive); and Leisure Area of the Odivelas Dam (33km, 30 minutes’ drive).
• Golf course: Club Golf Tróia (71km, 50 minutes’ drive)

Suite

Suites with air-conditioning, double or twin beds, bathroom (shower), hairdryer, telephone, cable TV, separate seating area with sofa bed - suitable as an extra bed for an adult or child (2-11yrs) and a shared veranda facing the paddy fields. Note: No pets allowed except for guide dogs for the blind.