Only highly rated reviews received for our property: Amanda said: ‘You will not be disappointed if you stay in this villa - we absolutely loved it!’ Caroline V said: ‘John's house is located in the center of Portugal between Lisbon and Porto ... we had a great stay: the house is very spacious and pleasant, tastefully decorated and very well equipped, everyone took advantage of the pool and various terraces of the house with their breathtaking and unobstructed views of the hills ... we greatly appreciated the tranquility and calm of the environment, far from the tourist masses. There is everything you need in Alvaiázere about 7 kms away and there are plenty of activities nearby: beaches on the banks of the river, caves, hiking. .... and that's without counting on the kindness and accuracy of the information given by the owners (all that is put in the advertisement corresponds to what you will find on the spot). It is an ideal base to discover another Portugal while leaving the possibility to spend a day on Lisbon and / or Porto or to Nazare and discover the surroundings of Alvaiazere. We highly recommend this location !!!’ The house is located within a few minutes drive of the A13, close to the small market town of Cabaços and just 20 minutes from the World Heritage town of Tomar. There is a bar/café with a mini-market within 10 minutes walk. Lisbon and Porto are a 1.5 hour drive away. The villa’s kidney shaped swimming pool measures 10.5m x 5.25m is completely private and secluded. Also completely secluded is the courtyard with outside steps up to the large terrace which gets all day sunshine. The large kitchen with breakfast bar has a rustic dining table which seats 8 and has 2 comfortable settees. The sitting room including 3 sofas, one of which is a sofa bed, has access to the rear garden and to the courtyard. The master bedroom has an en suite bathroom, king size bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers and sliding doors to a small balcony. In addition there are 2 good sized twin bedrooms with fitted wardrobes. All 3 bedrooms have window fly/mosquito screens. There is a family bathroom adjacent to the twin bedrooms. There’s a downstairs WC. There’s private parking for several cars. It’s just a 5 minute drive to Cabaços with cafés, bakery, restaurant, mini-market, butcher, fishmonger, pharmacy, bank/cash point and other local stores. Monday is market day. There is a local representative on call to deal with any problems which may occur. Should you require something which doesn’t seem to be included, please let us know in advance and we will do our best to help (within reason of course!). The centre of Portugal has some of the country’s finest beaches, many of which are well known for surfing. Central Portugal has major monuments, wonderful scenery and ancient remains. The Romans described the centre of Portugal as the Garden of Eden as much of Central Portugal is covered with lush, green and beautiful mountain scenery. The blue flag beach Praia do Osso da Baleia with free parking is 1 hour’s drive. Casa de Sandoeira - Things to Do: Our self catering villa is situated near Alvaiázere in Central Portugal, close to unspoiled countryside with river beaches suitable for swimming and historic world heritage sites. It is 20 minutes from the beautiful city Tomar and within 30 minutes of Portugal’s stunning third largest city - the University city of Coimbra. Lisbon and Porto are just a train ride away or 1.5 hours by car. Horse riding, hiking, kayaking, river trips and spa days are all available locally. Sandoeira The locale around Sandoeira is unspoiled, natural and often stunning - surrounded by mountains, rivers, gorges, forests, picturesque villages and miles of sandy beaches. The nearest large town is Alvaiázere which has everything a small town should have: restaurants, pharmacy, doctors, a football team, shops and bars. It has a market once a week, where you can buy anything from furniture to rabbits or a pair of jeans! Tomar Tomar is dominated by the Convento de Cristo which sits high above the city and is crossed by the Nabão River. Its chequered history tells stories about its wealth, trading, religion and atrocities. The Convent is an incredible 'must do’ place to visit. River Beaches Portugal’s river beaches are gems of tranquility tucked into gorges, along rivers or created in picturesque towns and villages. The clear river waters in this part of Portugal are often warmer than the sea and with no hidden undercurrents, making river beaches perfect for beautiful summer days. Highly recommended is the Fragas de São Simão river beach. A twisty drive through the forest, takes you past a spectacular view point, down to where the River Alge has been dammed to help provide pools of varying depths. It is a beautiful natural setting, with dappled shade and swimming in the crystal clear water.)