The Casa da Avó Genoveva is a traditional country house hotel situated in a rural location close to Tomar, Portugal. The pastel-coloured façades of this lovely 17th Century building are offset beautifully against the lush greenery of the surrounding hills of the Ribatejo region, making it an enticing retreat at the end of a long day of sightseeing.
The house is typical of the architecture of Tomar and the surrounding area and was acquired in 1837 via the marriage of its namesake, Genoveva Antunes Duarte, great grandmother of the present owner, and has remained in the family every since. Thanks to its roots as a family home it has never lost its delightfully welcoming atmosphere, and it is easy to relax into feeling that you are a private house guest rather than a hotel visitor.
Casa da Avó Genoveva was completely refurbished in 1992 with the assistance of a grant from the Tourism Fund and offers a light and spacious interior with plenty of communal space inside and out. Guest rooms consist of three doubles, one suite, one single and two apartments and all guests can benefit from use of the living room with open fire, library/reading room, snooker room, card table and a cosy, well-stocked bar.
The house sits in expansive gardens featuring an outdoor pool and a tennis court for the enjoyment of all, and a table football area, cable television and children’s playground to keep the younger guests amused while their parents relax in a sun lounger or catch up on some correspondence using the hotel’s wireless Internet facilities. The gardens make for a lovely place to stroll in the early evening, when the setting sun casts its shadow over the courtyards and slips down behind the ancient palms.
The hotel offers free private parking and makes a perfect base for guests with their own transport to explore the local area. The nearby town of Tomar is one of Portugal’s most important historic and cultural centres, and is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is an attractive centre with plenty to see and entertain. For the more active, there are some delightful nature trails in the area as well as opportunities to ride the famous Lusitano horses at one of the nearby equestrian centres. The Castelo de Bode Lake is easily accessible, offering plenty of swimming and watersports to tire you out before returning to the rural tranquility of the Casa da Avó Genoveva at the end of the day.
Address: Rua 25 de Abril 16, Tomar 2305-509, Portugal
Phone: +351 249 982 219
Fax: +351 249 982 191
email: avogenoveva@sapo.pt
website: www.avogenoveva.com
