My goodness! I realized that never properly took you on a full tour of the villa. Continue on for a proper orientation:
04 January 2022
Note: I will use a number of images from the realtor who represented the property--Christie's International Real Estate, Luximos in Porto--combined with our own personal photographs. These realtor images are the first views we had of the property long before we ever made it to Portugal, and were the provocateur for us to experience the property in person. The existing antique furnishings in the realtor images showcase how the property was originally used by the family who built the property in the 1930s. Our own photographs post-closing give a contrast to the property as a blank canvas for design inspiration.
Exterior
The above view shows the property's most Northeasterly corner, along the street--a view that first welcomes visitors. The steps lead to the main door. The attic verandah sits above the main entry.
Further images of the exterior, entry door, and view from the door of the River Minho and Monte de Santa Trega in Galicia, Spain (across the river).
Architectural Plans
For orientation purposes, above you will see a floor plan that will serve as a guide as we move across the property. This is the first floor, in addition to an above-ground basement and wine cellar, as well as a second floor suite/attic (not shown). The entrance and steps from the previous photos is in the lower right corner. The property is organized around a central courtyard, creating a U-shaped building. The "Sala" or "Great Room" is the main public space at the bottom of the plan, with bedrooms lining the hallways above. The "Cozinha" or kitchen anchors the lower left corner of the courtyard, and outer garages and buildings complete the upper left corner of the plan.
The Property is almost triangulated in shape, with the villa (from the previous plans) in the upper left corner, and a barn, eira, and espigueiro in the center of the garden. The property's namesake street Rua da Portela lines the Northern edge of the estate. A rock wall surrounds the entire property, with an iron gate (labeled "entrada") at the opposite end of the land, at the bottom of this plan.
The surrounding rock walls and iron gate ("entrada") along Rua da Portela at the property's Northwestern edge.
Entrance Foyer and Corridors
The entry door is backed by a small, square foyer space, decorated with Azulejos Portuguese tiles and the speckled light of the cross-hatched shutters. Beyond the foyer is a T-shaped corridor leading to the main rooms of the house.
The Great Room
The centerpiece of the interior is undoubtedly the Great Room, serving as the main gathering space, dining and living areas, flanked by airy windows all along the North and Eastern facades of the villa.
Bedrooms and Bath
The original house had 4 bedrooms and 1 bathroom along the corridors of the first floor. The images below show the bedrooms before and after closing.
Kitchen
This space undoubtedly needs the most modernization, but note both the marble sink and the large stove hood, a typical characteristic of Portuguese kitchens. (We are trying to retain both of these unique elements in the design of the new kitchen).
The Courtyard
The hero of the property (and its most attractive selling-point in my opinion) is undoubtedly the courtyard, around which the house is organized. It provides complete privacy, and opens to the gardens and farmland beyond. This will function as the villa's outdoor living room.
The Gardens, Barns, and Outer Buildings
The property was once a working farm and a great garden, as evident from the multitude of orange, mandarin, fig, persimmon, and apple trees onsite, and from the hedges, flowers, and herbs that grow wildly. To support this agrarian paradise, a stone barn anchors the center of the property, flanked by buildings that house a brick oven, poultry houses, and more. The Eira, or flat stone patio, was once used for drying corn, and the adjacent Espigueiro (a unique feature of the Portuguese North) was used for corn storage. Now, the land is largely overgrown and these buildings act as "ruins" in the landscape.
Above: the barn's upper level, with interesting agricultural equipment; The Eira; The Courtyard and Villa from the overgrown gardens; The garages and well sit in the overgrowth of vines; The oven and fowl-house.
The Espigueiro next to a persimmon tree.
Basement and Wine Cellar
On the lower level of the house, granite stone walls surround glorious wine-making equipment, my favourite "surprise find" of the house. Many Portuguese I've spoken to about this space have said it was typical of their rural-living grandparent's homes to have wine making equipment. Personally, I cannot wait to do an "I Love Lucy!" reenactment, stomping on the grapes!!
The Upper Suite, Attic, and Verandah
The third level of the house is perhaps the most private space in the home, and will eventually serve as an exclusive suite. Its most spectacular feature is the verandah that overlooks the Minho River and Spain beyond.
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