ALENTEJO

The perfect hideaway for quiet luxury, nature, and wine.

Can we make time stop? In here, we definitely can. An ancient farming village surrounded by olive groves and vineyards, São Lourenço do Barrocal, in the Alentejan region of Portugal, is now a luxurious estate that welcomes you with white cottages, a farm, adorable resident animals, delightful guest rooms and suites to make your stay a dream.

Family-owned for over two centuries, they also produce their own olive oil, and the winery, one of their trademarks, creates outstanding, single-estate wines. It even has 16 Neolithic dolmen for you to complete this delightful journey through a peaceful, slower time.

Stay on one of their discreetly charming cottages overlooking the landscape, or one of the farm rooms that used to be the home of the estate’s personnel and community. Indulge in one of their beauty and wellness treatments, with natural care and sustainability in mind. Participate in one of the many arrangeable activities, from wine and oil tastings to beekeeping, local crafts such as a pottery workshop or traditional spoon carving, or even a boat tour in Lake Alqueva, one of the most unique natural treasures in the region.

Discover the discreet charm of Barrocal and the captivating Alentejan light, let minutes be longer, and embrace a slower pace for every experience here to last in your memory forever.

Where?
Monsaraz, Alentejo, around 115 miles from central Lisbon (2h20).

When?
A delightful stay any time of the year. The estate has 275 days of sunshine per year, so just pick a date!

Why?
It’s hard to find Alentejan stays as relaxedly luxurious as this.

Photography credits

Culture

Food & Wine

Lifestyle

Hola! Welcome to THE REAL THING
The Really Top DMC in Spain & Portugal

We plan the trips that dreams are made of: trips tailored to your tastes and interests, with sophisticated proposals and all-around excellence. We help you discover the soul of vibrant cities and picturesque villages, the best coastal enclaves, the true countryside, and the natural beauty of rivers and mountains in their purest state.

You will enjoy food and wine like never before and soak up history and art at every turn; you will take part in our traditions and immerse yourself in our culture. Always in superb spaces, in great company, with an emphasis on quality, exclusivity and good taste. We know how to have fun and make your trip an enriching experience, helping you to tap into the real essence of each place.

We craft the best trips: ones that suit your needs, your taste, your rhythm. We take you to remarkable places and offer you a hand-picked selection of experiences that help you feel connected with the local spirit, with the people, with their art and their cuisine, with the land.

What we do

We make sure you enjoy every moment of your trip, arranging one unforgettable experience after another

We take care of absolutely everything so you don’t have to worry about absolutely anything. Our job is to ensure that your travels in Spain and Portugal are a pleasurable experience. We work for people with high standards (we have them, too), both on an individual and corporate level. We are flexible, but we like to have everything under control. And we aim to exceed expectations, including those of children: we love kids and know how important they are.

We put together packages based on what you want to experience. We are very well-versed in the cultural and dining scenes, and we have a long list of exceptional locations and contacts at our disposal. We open the doors of a convent full of precious art work just for you, we invite you to discover an enchanting Andalusian city guided by a viceroy, we take you to harvest oysters in the sea and cook with a chef, we send you sailing through Lisbon at dusk while listening to fados live… The accommodations, means of transport and restaurants, like everything else, will always be superb and fit with your style and preferences.

We highlight the local historic, artistic, natural and traditional heritage with a contemporary approach. We stand for a high-quality, inclusive, sustainable and respectful form of tourism. We want you to feel like a local, but not just any local: we provide you with the best of the best because there are so many wonders to see and no time to waste.

Monuments, museums, urban vibes, shopping, heritage, traditions, festivals, local cuisine, wine, crafts, relaxation, slow life, wellness, sports, adventure, nature, sea, music, fun, the good life…

Letting go is easy when everything feels so good. THE REAL THING always makes your wishes come true.

Who we are

We are your hip insiders, the guardian angels of your travels

Gloria Pou and Marta Muñoz — Glòria Pou and Marta Muñoz Recarte

We are a small but strong team led by Marta Muñoz Recarte and Glòria Pou. Both of us had long-standing careers in the art world until 2013, when our passion for travel led us to create THE REAL THING.

We are based in Madrid and Barcelona, where we design and oversee your journeys. We have a close-knit network of choice collaborators that make us the really top DMC we are. They include hoteliers with class, tour guides with cachet and chauffeurs with an eye; people who hold the keys to historic and unique buildings, art curators, cultural ambassadors and personal shoppers; contacts at the trendiest restaurants and bars of our cities, musicians, DJs, flamenco dancers, chefs, sommeliers, bartenders… Farmers and winegrowers, ceramicists, cheesemakers, sports instructors, massage therapists, fishermen, percebeiras (goose barnacle hunters), sailboat captains, jugglers, magicians… Want to meet them?

During your travels will we be available to assist you 24/7 and help you with whatever you need.

We like to keep up with the latest developments and traverse villages and cities in search of the best locations, hotels, businesses and restaurants.

Fundação Serralves

Abadía Retuerta LeDomaine

Palacio de Figueras

ALENTEJO