Discover Real Portugal and the Best Places to Stay

Aldeia da Mata Pequena is located about 35 km to the north-west of Lisbon and is easily accessible by motorway. It is close to many excellent beaches and is set in an area of rolling countryside.

The village (aldeia) of Mata Pequena consists of around a dozen houses, some single storey and some with two stories, built in the traditional style of the “Saloio” region. Seventy or so inhabitants were registered in the village in the 19th century, but today scarcely more than a dozen still cling to their roots and traditional way of life. This means that the village has been left almost untouched by modern, so-called ‘progress’, which gives it an atmosphere of authenticity which has been carefully cultivated in the restoration of the houses available for tourism.

In total, Diogo and Ana have managed to restore 7 different properties in the village, with great attention to detail and historic authenticity, and using only local materials. The only concessions made have been the inclusion of modern bathrooms, running water and electricity!

All the houses retain their original wood burning bread ovens, which are an integral part of the kitchens. The kitchens are equipped with a small, discreet stove and a fridge is camouflaged behind a chintz curtain., Cutlery and cooking equipment is supplied as well as locally made terracotta crockery and if anything is missing, Diogo and Ana are just up the road and will be happy to help out.

The living and sleeping areas have been furnished using for the most part traditional furniture from the region which has been carefully restored. For example, each house has a wooden chest made from tropical hardwood from Brazil, gleaned by local carpenters after completion of the royal palace in Mafra in the 18th century! These valuable chests were a prized feature in many humble dwellings in the area.

The restoration of the village has been a labour of love for Diogo and his wife Ana, involving some six years of research, investigation, building work, collecting of period pieces of furniture as well as a lot of bureaucratic setbacks. However, the dream of being able to live and raise a family in an authentic rural village, with pure air, beautiful surroundings, close to nature, but also close enough to the facilities of the city, provided them with the necessary impetus to persevere.

To select the location, Diogo researched military maps from the 19th century to identify villages which had not undergone any expansion, and which would therefore not have been disfigured by more modern additions to the size and character of the village. Having thus narrowed down the list of possibilities, Diogo and Ana were rapidly able to conclude that Aldeia da Mata Pequena was what they were looking for, and they were able to purchase and start work on the ruin which was to become their own house.

They will be able to regale you with many stories and anecdotes about their experiences with the project, and their enthusiasm is infectious. They can justly be very proud of what they have achieved, and the new lease of life they have given to this village.

The couple are very interested in and committed to nature and conservation, and are happy to organise activities and provide information for guests to enjoy what the surrounding environment has to offer. They cooperate with local schools enabling children to learn about traditional skills, customs, local agriculture and country lore.

Aldeia da Mata Pequena is currently able to offer 7 houses:

Casa da Cigarra, Casa da Palha and Casa do Jasmim each sleep 2 guests.
Casa da Ti Jacinta and Casa do Padeirão both sleep 4 guests.
Casa do Pedro and Casa do Poço both sleep 6 guests.


As soon as you step into each house you will feel that you are stepping back in time. You will be struck by the wealth of traditional furnishings, fittings and artefacts, all carefully chosen to create an atmosphere of a time gone by.

Quaint, heavy, cottage-like doors with large old fashioned keys open into cosy, rustic interiors with natural tones. Thick walls, original stone floors and exposed stone-work on walls, so typically features of farm dwellings, are softened by beautiful original pine beams and impressive wood-panelled ceilings. Warmth and colour are created by vibrantly painted wood work and furniture, traditional chintz fabrics on bedspreads and curtains and original handpainted tiles in kitchens and bathrooms. The kitchens are equipped with original wood burning bread ovens and salting tubs, heavy stone sinks and work surfaces and traditional crockery and cooking utensils.

Outside, the houses are freshly whitewashed with the traditional blue or yellow borders. Most of the houses have their own independent garden or terrace from which guests may enjoy alfresco dining, views across the surrounding countryside, the vibrant colours of climbing bougainvillea or the sweet scent of jasmine or honeysuckle lingering in the air.

Each of the houses is unique in terms of size, historical use and design.

To guarantee the reservation, the owners ask for a 30% deposit to be paid by bank transfer, cheque or cash. The balance can be paid by cheque or cash on arrival.

There is no credit card facility at this property.

All payments are made directly to the property owner.

Meals:
Breakfast is provided and is made up of a range of traditional products and homemade delights which will be left in the fridge or welcome basket on your arrival. Some bread, freshly baked in a wood-fired bread oven, is delivered each morning, all courtesy of your hosts, Diogo and Ana.

Cooking in the Houses:
The houses have a cooker, refrigerator, freezer and cooking utensils but if you need anything else, just ask Diogo and Ana as they live just next door and are always on hand to give help and advice.

Barbecues:
All houses have outdoor barbecuing facilities.

Restaurants:
The village now offers a small 'Tasca' or café/restaurant which serves snacks and light meals.

There are also some good restaurants just 3km away in Boavista, 8km away in the historic town of Mafra and 15km away in the fishing town of Ericeira.

Heating:
Traditional building techniques combined with the more modern use of thermal insulation ensure that the houses are cooler in the summer months and warmer in the winter months. However, oil heaters are available in all the houses for that extra boost of heat that may be required on colder days.