D. Maria São Pedro de Balsemão

This is a unique property in a beautiful and friendly village in the country. Visually beautiful. Friendly and helpful host. Lots of privacy. Traditional decor in a traditional home.

The dogs in the area roam freely through the streets. They bark nonstop until well after midnight. Not the host’s fault, but something visitors might want to know about ahead of time. There are a few minor maintenance issues, but still excellent value.

A tranquil rustic location. The accommodation is on the first floor via the exterior stone steps( 2 flight's). The venue has 4-6 rooms upstairs , a communal kitchen & two bathrooms ( shared ) with modern facilities. The building is a conversion from a former agricultural facility & the original ( historical, now disused) equipment is there to see & it's quite the curiosity. The place has a very homely feeling to it .There is a comfortable communal sitting room with a terrace to relax & enjoy the iconic views of a very traditional location. The kitchen is also communal, it has all the equipment you want and is set in a light ,airy environment that has also retained the original traditional fireplace ( vast ) & the wood burning oven. There are free laundry facilities on site and these are efficient, though drying is outside & not a machine. The hosts couldn't be more welcoming & helpful. You are made to feel more than a guest. The local town is ten minutes away in a car via country road, almost single track ; challenging for a motorcycle in the dark on first attempt . If your are looking for relaxation, tranquility & a warm welcome with a homely atmosphere this is your best option. Btw...a small ancient historic church with a helpful curator & Visigoth stone inscriptions is only a 5 minute walk away.

The steps...a handrail or some such aid might be advisable? I had a previous knee issue & these steps might be no concern for others.

The experience of being so remote in a typical Portuguese country side.

Not sure if the water was good to drink because I could understand anything of what my lovely host was saying. Could be great to have sign in the kitchen with things written in other languages. Maria is very nice, but she doesn’t speak a word of English, so hard to understand the basic stuff she was trying to explain. Also, the photo of the house from the outside, couldn’t recognize the place.. it has this abandoned house look.

María was an amazing host, we had a great stay. Staying there is an exceptional experience.

The only downside would be the comfort of the bed.

Behind the meandering mountains of the Douro and up the Balsemão river is the charming hamlet of the same name and Laura and her mother's delightful home. We were welcomed into the cool, stone house after a long walk from Lamego (car transit recommended) and given a tour of the beautiful flora of the property. Laura and her mother are part of a tradition of exceptional agricultural skill, which Laura very graciously shared with us (some of the sweetest and freshest lettuce of my young life). The kitchen is adjacent to the old wine production facilities, and the balcony looks over the village. Our nightly entertainment was the life of the 20-person town: admiring their gardens, watching the puppies play, collecting fresh cherries, and waving at the babies who passed beneath us. Laura graciously allowed us to overlap with her work commute and we saw even more of the delights of life in the rural reaches of the Douro. An unforgettable stay.

We only stayed two nights! Should have booked more...

The owner is very friendly and the little village is beautiful and peaceful. The fireplace in the kitchen and the balcony were both great.

One of the pillows on the bed was extremely hard, and the door to our room couldn't open easily from the inside due to lack of a handle.