Castelo Ventoso Country Estate

The story of Castelo Ventoso begins in the Middle Ages, when its tower formed part of Évora’s defensive system. In the sixteenth century, the estate became property of the cathedral before being entrusted to the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits found here a place of refuge, a quiet corner where they could meditate between classes at the University of Évora.

After the order was dissolved, the property returned to the Crown, then passed into the hands of a succession of Portuguese aristocrats before eventually reaching its current families. Over more than five centuries, only three families have cared for this estate. This remarkable continuity, according to Annabelle Van Beuningen, explains the atmosphere that feels both pure and quietly magical.

Beneath its lime-washed arches, the former monastery has found a new balance. The historic wing houses eight bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, along with lounges crowned by vaulted ceilings and a Baroque chapel that looks as though it belongs on an opera stage. In the grand salon, a remarkable azulejo panel by Policarpo de Oliveira Bernardes, created between 1695 and 1778, depicts the Annunciation.

Castelo Ventoso does not simply lean on its old stones. The renovation carried out between 2019 and 2022 by Tomas Ramos and his ARC Architects team creates a dialogue between heritage and modernity. A contemporary steel and glass extension now links the kitchen to the surrounding landscape. Handmade ceramics, Portuguese linen, contemporary artworks, and Jesuit benches that have witnessed four centuries of history coexist with ease. The result is a home that feels at once serene, monastic, and warmly welcoming.

Here, every day follows its own gentle ritual. Breakfast is served beneath the olive trees in the gravel garden behind the kitchen, a glass of vinho branco is enjoyed by the pool, a few rounds are played on the private padel court, and then the sunset becomes the main event. The estate also hosts weddings and gatherings for up to eighty guests. Under the stars or beside the fire in the barn, every celebration seems to carry the blessing of the place.

Beyond the estate, Alentejo reveals its treasures. UNESCO listed Évora, the whitewashed villages of Estremoz, ceramic workshops, vineyards, and a handful of unmissable restaurants such as Mercearia do Largo and Tua Madre. For more contemplative souls, a siesta among orange and fig trees is enough to perfect the art of doing nothing at all.