Quinta da Matalva turned out to be the perfect choice for three couples who wanted privacy but also the appropriate spaces for being together at meals and other times of relaxation. The design, layout, finish, and furnishing of the rooms not only matches what is shown in the property's pictures, but the lived-in comfort and charm of the spaces, from bedrooms to living and dining areas, is exceptional. We were able to take meals on the terrace (weather permitting) and in the more formal dining room, and spend many pleasant hours in conversation in front of a welcoming fireplace that projected comforting warmth as the early October evenings grew colder after the sun went down. The kitchen was also extremely well outfitted and laid out for making meals for our group. The bedrooms and bathrooms were also most comfortable and furnished to a high standard. All in all, Quinta da Matalva is everything that is described, and much,much more. As a group we couldn't have been happier with this property and the only complaint might be that it was too inviting so that we would get late starts to our daily touring of the many exceptional heritage sites and beaches within an easy driving distance. Sintra certainly deserves its reputation as a UNESCO World Heritage Cultural Landscape, and while the number of tourists at different sites can be intimidating depending on the time of day, the many historic properties nearby the villa, are quite remarkable in their beauty and in the professionalism with which they are interpreted and managed. Ranging from the National Palace of Sintra, dating back to the thirteenth century and associated with Portugal's earliest monarchs, to the highly eccentric Quinta da Regaleira, an elaborate tribute to the brilliant but highly esoteric twelve-year collaboration of Carvalho Monteiro and Luigi Manini in the two decades before the Great War, the properties of Sintra are all worth a serious visit, which can take at least a half a day each. The beaches are also well worth visiting as is Lisbon, which is a short train ride away. Quinta da Matalva is an outstanding base from which to tour all of these places and more, and the setting could not be more beautiful and relaxing. Our main regret was having only one week to enjoy both the property and the surrounding sites. One should stay two weeks. Also, visitors should be prepared for narrow roads and some challenging traffic. A longer stay also allows you to adapt better to the driving.
