Yesterday Fran and I visited one of the properties we have advertised for sale on Pure Portugal. It’s always interesting to see the properties “in the flesh” and it also helps us to more easily match our clients with their perfect property.

Quinta da Moenda is a 1.6 hectare riverside tourism complex with private home and 5 self-catering apartments, swimming pool and sauna. The current property dates from circa 1779, when it was used as an olive oil mill – but it has much older origins and you can still see the structure of a roman watermill on the property.

I already knew the property, as the last owner was a friend of mine, but in the last 10 years the new owners have invested a lot of money and hard work and made many improvements.  What I was most impressed with was how much careful thought had gone into everything, from installing a much improved and safer electrical system, to the incredibly well-organised files full of information on everything from how to use the TV remote control to how the water pumping system works which will be left for the new owners.

The main house and the apartments have all recently been individually assessed for energy efficiency and been awarded either A+, A, or B ratings, which is incredibly impressive and an indication of just how much care the current owners have put into the renovations.

It’s almost impossible for me to choose what was my favourite thing about this property, which is beautiful, full of character and history, but also extremely functional with modern facilities (it’s no wonder they are so busy with holiday-makers throughout the year), it’s also in the most wonderful location right next to the river and within walking distance of the pretty village. Some highlights for me:

• Proximity to the river and the beautiful Roman bridge, and the riverside path leading to the village just a short walk away. The river also ensures an unlimited supply of crystal-clear water (this is one of the cleanest rivers in Europe) for both the salt-water swimming pool and for irrigation.  The property also has its own borehole (for drinking water), and a connection to the mains water supply.

• Year-round potential for income as all the apartments have been designed with the Portuguese climate in mind.  They are fresh and cool in summer and have not only central heating (radiators) but also log fires (much more cosy and romantic!) for the winter.

• The incredible rock walls in the sauna house, and in the bathrooms in the apartments.

• Solar water heating (with special panels inset into the roof of both the guest apartments and the owners house) with large storage tanks making up two seperate systems and ensuring there’s always ample (and free!) hot water for everyone.

• The double-height living room in the owners’ house (which was originally the olive oil press and manages to be spacious, light and airy and cosy at the same time), still with its huge stone fireplace (which once heated water for the pressing process, and now has a log burner with heat recovery system to provide central heating throughout the house), the alcoves either side of the fireplace where tree trunks were fixed to operate the presses, and the huge carved stone basins for collecting the pressed oil.

• The very well-equipped outdoor kitchen and BBQ area for guests’ use (all the apartments also have their own kitchen).

• The guest lounge, spacious and very well-equipped, with a huge central log fire which divides the lounge into two spaces (one with sofas, one with dining tables), a small library and lots of local information including maps of many wonderful walking trails starting from the quinta.

• The “man cave” – it actually is cave-like (the entrance is via an iron-grille gate into a rock wall) and both Fran and I were most impressed with it!  It even includes a ‘secret’ wine cellar at the rear, and its own WC!

• I also loved that the owners’ accommodation, whilst being conveniently close to the guest facilities (and with a balcony overlooking the swimming pool), is still very private and has its own courtyard (shaded by grape vines, kiwis, and a lemon tree) with a bread oven and covered outdoor dining area, alongside its own riverside garden.

The only thing I found slightly disappointing was that the mill race was not being used to provide electricity, but this would be very easy for the new owners to do if desired, and this would make the entire complex completely off-grid (although it already has a “Green Key” award for sustainable tourism).

The quinta is being offered for sale (including all the equipment and the well-established business) for 850,000 euros, and you can see more details and photos on the Pure Portugal website at www.pureportugal.co.uk/property/quinta-da-moenda