This Hotel, (formerly a Pousada) with
breathtaking views over the River Douro, offers superb hotel accommodation in
an 18th Century Quinta in a port wine region of Portugal.
This magnificent, traditionally
furnished house echoes back to the aristocratic lifestyle of earlier generations.
Solar da Rede was the first hotel to operate under a franchise agreement
with the Pousadas of Portugal and is now again under private management.
The furniture is outstanding
and the individually designed bedrooms have been described as "a museum
of beds". Each room contains one of the finest beds of an age and
all the furniture in the bedroom co-ordinates with it.
These fine pieces are also
seen throughout the public rooms of the hotel and fit perfectly with the
architectural grandeur, furnishings and the beautiful, decorated azulejos
(painted tiles) on many of the walls.
The Solar was built in the
18th Century on the terraced vineyards leading down to the River Douro.
At that time the view would
have been to the fast flowing river but now it is a long lake with hotel
boats making a tranquil cruise across the breadth of Portugal to the Spanish
border.
The perfect way to arrive
at this hotel must be to take one of the boats going up river from Porto
and see the magnificent scenery with the terraced vineyards and the white
Quintas and Solares standing proudly in the middle of their estates.
For those with less time
there is a helicopter pad at the Hotel.
The first owner of this Quinta
was Jose Maria de Alpoim who was a controversial political activist at
the time when the monarchy gave way to a republic.
After his death in 1916 the
house was abandoned and fell into disrepair until it was bought by Pinto
Marques in 1962 and it underwent a complete restoration.
When it was bought by the
present owner in 1997 the house was in a perfect state and only the kitchen
required remodeling.
As you enter the doors into
this magnificent building the feeling is one of stepping back into the
past.
The hall has a granite floor
and half way up the walls are the famous painted tiles for which Portugal
is famous.
On a rug in the centre is
a beautiful carved table with rustic bench seats at the walls.
The accommodation comprises 19 standard rooms, 2 deluxe rooms, and 8 suites.
17 rooms are located in various small houses surrounding the main building with a dazzling view over the Douro valley.
All bedrooms have private
bathroom, air conditioning, telephone, cable television, hair dryer, bathing gowns and
the deluxe rooms have hydromassage bath.
Other fine rooms are throughout
the house including a dining room containing 17th Century furniture which
is now only used for special occasions.
The old kitchens, with their
tiled floors and walls, have been converted to the hotel dining room. Formerly
it was 3 rooms separated by granite arches and this creates an intimate
atmosphere.
In the cellars you will find
the wine tasting room - the reason for the house and estate. This room
still has the old inlaid table in the middle of the 'cave' whose walls
are lined with barrels containing the wines of the Quinta.
The outside swimming pools, one for adult and one for children,
have views over the vineyards and there is also a tennis court. The 25 hectares
vineyard provides interesting walks through magnificent scenery.
The Hotel is air conditioned
and facilities include heliport, restaurant, bar, terrace, snooker and
family games, swimming pool, tennis court and parking.
There are 3 meeting rooms. The largest has a capacity for 180 persons. They all have natural light, broadband and wireless internet, screen, flipchart and projector.
Activities in the area include
golf, river cruises, hunting, fishing, bicycle tours and country walks.
For golfers there is an excellent
course at Amarante Golf Course.
The hotel is reached by the road from Amarante to Regua with the international airport at Porto (Oporto) approximately 83 kilometers away.
Hotel CS Solar da Rede will be closed until the end of 2012
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